Latest on the Ebola crisis in Africa
- 1. The World Health Organization believes the Ebola virus has infected over 1,848 people and killed at least 1,013, making this worse than all previous Ebola outbreaks combined. Global Partners Africa Area Director Bob Bagley asks that we pray for God to intervene to heal the sick and to halt the spread of Ebola in the countries of Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria, and Equatorial Guinea. Also pray for the safety of healthcare workers. The Wesleyan Church has churches in each of these four countries. Pray that our churches would be a beacon of light and help to those in need.
- 2. A medical team including Carrie Jo Cain, pediatric nurse, is travelling to Kamakwie Hospital in Sierra Leone, and bringing some much-needed supplies and medical expertise to help during the Ebola crisis. Carrie Jo (formerly Kinde) grew up in Sierra Leone and is under Global Partners appointment to return there with her husband and daughter as a missionaries in January, 2015. See this video of Carrie Jo on the St. Paul, Minnesota evening news!
- 3. On Monday, August 4, Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma declared a “stay-at-home-day” on the heels of declaring a national emergency. He is mustering the resources of the nation and international aid to take collective action against the greatest-ever outbreak of the deadly virus.
- 4. The national superintendent of the Wesleyan Church of Sierra Leone, Rev. Usman Fornah, also is the general secretary of the Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone. In that capacity, he is helping give leadership to a nationwide Ebola sensitization effort. He has also met repeatedly with the Minister of Health and the President urging rapid distribution of health packages to remote health centers, including Kamakwie Wesleyan Hospital and other Wesleyan health centers. However, in his words, the supplies are never enough in these situations, and they must turn to overseas partners to augment their capacity to battle the health crisis. Please consider donating to the Wesleyan Emergency Relief Fund for this crisis.
- 5. The staff at Kamakwie Wesleyan Hospital is trained in Ebola prevention and management. However, staffing, supplies, and equipment that are needed in this crisis are in short supply. Also, resources are needed for health workers to mobilize and quickly provide education in hundreds of villages: utilizing the Wesleyan church network and our partnership with World Hope International to get the appropriate health information to the grass roots.
Donations are urgently needed for this relief effort. We can help stop the spread of this virus!
Donate to the Wesleyan Emergency Relief Fund for this crisis here.
Ebola prevention list – West Africa
Carrie Jo and Geoff Cain
Carrie Jo (Kinde) Cain in Sierra Leone
