CONAKRY/MONROVIA/FREETOWN/DAKAR/HONG KONG, 14 January 2016 – Nearly 23,000 children who lost one or both parents or their primary caregivers to Ebola in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone will continue to need care and support, UNICEF said as it welcomed the declaration that there are no more cases of the disease in West Africa.
Today’s declaration that Liberia is free of Ebola transmissions, having completed a 42-day period without a case of the disease, follows Guinea’s declaration in December and Sierra Leone’s in November. The country now enters a three month period of heightened surveillance.
CONAKRY/ HONG KONG, December 29, 2015 – Almost two years to the day when a toddler became the first victim of Ebola in West Africa, UNICEF welcomed the declaration that the outbreak has ended in Guinea, but cautioned that the thousands of children orphaned by the disease, as well as those who survived infection, will need continued support.
“While we mark this occasion, we must all remember that children were greatly impacted by Ebola. They were more likely to die if infected. Over 22,000 children lost one or both parents in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. They are traumatized and continue to be stigmatized in their neighbourhoods. For thousands of girls and boys, the outbreak does not end today. It will be with them throughout their lives. Let us commit to be with them too,” said Dr. Mohamed Ag Ayoya, UNICEF’s Representative in Guinea.
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone/ HONG KONG, 7 November 2015 – The WHO declaration marking the end of the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone today is welcomed by UNICEF as a major victory for the large-scale and coordinated 18-month response. But enhanced surveillance must continue so that the country is ready for any possible future outbreaks, and work must also intensify to support those affected by the outbreak and to build a resilient recovery.
“This unprecedented health crisis has had a deep and tragic impact on children, whether through direct infection and death, or the impact of quarantine measures, school closures and the economic downturn,” said the UNICEF Representative in Sierra Leone, Geoff Wiffin.
KANIA, Sierra Leone/ HONG KONG, 19 October 2015 – After two days suffering severe headaches, Mamadu Sesay thought he might have contracted the Ebola virus.
Fearing the worst, Mamudu made his way to the Kania Community Care Centre (CCC) in Sierra Leone’s Kambia District, operated by the District Health Management Team, with support from UNICEF and the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
“I walked here by myself, because I felt really bad,” says Mamadu. “I was afraid I might have Ebola.”
Situation Overview -The Ebola outbreak continues to wreak havoc in Africa. According WHO data as of 14 October, 2014, the total number of confirmed, probable and suspected cases rose to 9,216, with 4,555 deaths. Three most affected countries are Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. -Around 9,000 people infected across the West Africa and at least […]
Situation Overview -The current Ebola outbreak is the deadliest ever. It is spreading fast with over 40 per cent of the total number of cases seen within the past few weeks. As of 3 September, the countries affected by the current outbreak of Ebola, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone, have reported about 3,500 […]
MONROVIA, Liberia/ HONG KONG, 3 September 2015– UNICEF today welcomed the announcement that Liberia has once again achieved zero Ebola transmission, and expressed hope that the country will now be able to focus on recovering from the outbreak, which has taken a severe toll on the lives of thousands of children and their communities. © […]
COPENHAGEN/ GENEVA/ NEW YORK/ HONG KONG, 26 August 2014 – This August UNICEF shipped 1,000 metric tonnes of life-saving supplies for children caught in the world’s most urgent crises — the largest emergency supply operation in the organization’s history in a single month. The amount delivered would fill 19 cargo jumbo jets. © UNICEF/NYHQ2014-0745/Mendes “UNICEF’s […]
Situation Overview -The scale of the ongoing outbreak is unprecedented, with approximately 1,603 confirmed and suspected cases reported, and 887 deaths in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria since March 2014. -It is the largest in terms of geographical areas already affected and others at immediate risk of further spread. -It is taking place in […]
By Lianne Gutcher Kept out of school by the Ebola epidemic, children in Guinea are making up for lost time through a series of lessons broadcast on radio. FORÉCARIAH, Guinea / HONG KONG, 10 July 2015 – One of the hidden impacts of the Ebola outbreak in Guinea is that children have missed out on […]