The World Health Organization still shows an escalation in new Ebola cases in Sierra Leone. A high number of confirmed cases were reported in Freetown, the districts of Bo, Bombali, Kambia, Kono, Koinadugu, Moyamba, Port Loko, Tonkolili, and Western Rural Area. [These are areas in which Wesleyan churches are concentrated.] Sierra Leone now has more cases of Ebola than Liberia and Guinea.
Because of your support and the support of the Wesleyan Emergency Relief Fund, we can report progress this week in the fight against Ebola.
CARRIE JO CAIN
Health care worker, Carrie Jo Cain (RN), from Minnesota, continues training medical workers and staff who treat patients at Ebola holding centers. Carrie Jo’s 240 program staff are tirelessly helping treat patients for Ebola every day. UNICEF and UKAID have both praised the team’s work this week. Carrie Jo’s staff also performed training for staff regarding the proper use of water filtration devices that were provided to World Hope International under a grant. Carrie Jo is also providing training and distributing other medical supplies provided as a result of The Wesleyan Church and World Hope International donor support.
[Time magazine’s people of the year for 2014, collectively, are the health care workers who demonstrate incredible courage and sacrifice by risking and giving their lives to treat Ebola patients.]
EBOLA SURVIVOR STORY
Experts don’t know why some people overcome the Ebola virus. Early treatment may be the most critical factor in surviving Ebola. Here is a story demonstrating the difference we can make with your support in giving a survivor a hand up to pick up their life after Ebola.
Mary, a 40-year-old, failed to follow good hygiene through consistent hand washing and no body contact with other people. She started feeling feverish and instead of seeking medical treatment she decided to use home remedies like sitting in the sun and using ointments.
After no improvement, a family member called an ambulance. She was taken to the Arab Hospital Holding Center. It took 10 days before her blood test results came back. She tested positive for Ebola. She was taken to Kailahun for treatment and fortunately, recovered after two weeks.
Mary is grateful for the survivor care package she received from World Hope International. These survivor care packages replace critical items like a sleeping mattress. Ebola decontamination crews destroyed many of Mary’s pre-treatment possessions. Thanks to your support these survivors have oil for cooking, bed mattresses, food stuffs, and other essential items enabling them to start their lives over.
[Thank you for continuing to support the Wesleyan Emergency Relief Fund, which gives the resources for The Wesleyan Church of Sierra Leone, Kamakwie Hospital, and World Hope International to continue the battle to limit and eventually defeat this terrifying plague.]
