16 Jul Mission Project: Ebola Awareness in Sierra Leone

Needed: $15,000 from July 2014 to January 2015

The Ebola virus is on the rise in West and Central Africa. The population in Sierra Leone is highly at risk of infection. Cultural and burial practices which bring people into close contact with corpses also risk infection. Weak nursing practices can also easily expose medical and nursing professionals to the infection.

Recently, Sierra Leone confirmed at least 14 cases in the Kailahun district. In June 2014, suspected cases have been reported in Bo, Moyamba, and Koinadugu districts in both the northern and southern parts of Sierra Leone. Ebola is highly contagious and has no treatment. The fatality rate can be as high as 90%.

But though Ebola can’t be treated, it can be prevented. Sierra Leone Conference, which includes 78 United Brethren churches plus many schools, has proposed a project which would engage faith leaders (not just United Brethren) in fighting the spread of Ebola. Pastors and teachers are highly respected and listened to in their communities. Engaging them will go a long way in making the wider population aware of high-risk behaviors.

Most of our 78 churches in Sierra Leone are located in the Bo and Bonthe districts. The project would focus on creating awareness about the Ebola virus and its prevention in the Bo and Bonthe districts. They want to:

• Hold two consultative meetings with 200 stakeholders each in Bo and Bonthe districts.
• Make 100,000 residents in the Bo and Bonthe districts aware of the contribution of religion to the prevention and control of   Ebola.
• Bring together 100 pastors and church leaders in the Bo and Bonthe districts to train them to teach people about the   transmission and prevention of Ebola.
• Bring together 200 teachers from all schools in the Bo and Bonthe districts to teach people about the transmission and   prevention of Ebola.
• Produce and distribute promotional materials on the subject.
• Pay airtime for daily radio discussions by facilitators and panelists, with jingles created in several local tribal languages.
• Use “street sensitization” to make people aware of the issue—motorcycles and other vehicles with public address systems,   comedians to move with the vehicles, jingles in the local tribal languages, fact sheets on Ebola to distribute in street parades,   large signs erected in strategic locations, and more.

Interested in supporting this project?

Send your check to:
Global Ministries
302 Lake Street
Huntington, IN 46750

Include project code “SL005” on the memo line.