THE EDITOR:
A year ago today, the world got confirmation that the mysterious disease, which had been claiming lives in West Africa for several months was Ebola. The epidemic has since left thousands of victims and deep scars particularly on Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Some of the first people to respond to the crisis were local Red Cross volunteers living in affected communities. Some 4,500 of them are still there; and they will be there after the epidemic is over.
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement believe complacency and silence are now the greatest enemies in defeating the disease, and is starting an awareness-raising campaign centred on using “the right words” to help beat the disease. The campaign Words Against Ebola seeks to promote knowledge and awareness globally, as well as dialogue and engagement, to strengthen a global community of support and overcome local community resistance – all to get us to zero Ebola infections.
On the ground in West Africa, medical hardware alone is no longer enough. Practices that people are not ready to abandon – like unsafe burials in which the still-contagious bodies of the deceased are handled by relatives – need to be changed. Words are the tool with which we can do this.
The danger now is that the international community might lose interest and turn away, leaving us with an endemic “silent disaster”, especially with the approaching rainy season that will make access to communities much more difficult. But with sustained international solidarity and yet further heroism by local volunteers and health workers, we can get to zero infections, stronger health systems, and recovery from the wounds Ebola has inflicted on communities.
Words Against Ebola is a global campaign where we can all participate. We, the Saint Lucia Red Cross want to ask your readers to take a few moments to look at our special website www.wordsagainstebola.org and find out how we can all use words to roll back stigma against healthcare workers, volunteers and survivors, and words to educate people on Ebola. Persons can also visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Lucia-Red-Cross/134328699943783 to upload their words of support.
There are currently six international Red Cross Red Crescent appeals supporting the response to Ebola, together worth more than 100 million US dollars for nearly 40 million people in 16 countries.
Since the start of the emergency, Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies have carried out what we call “safe and dignified burials” for more than 15,000 people, provided three main treatment hubs, and worked on tracing contacts, psychosocial support and social mobilization.
But we need continued support – and the right words – to carry on this vital work.
Everyone hopes the worst is behind us, and there has been good news recently, especially from Liberia. But we have had false dawns before.
There is still a long way to go until Ebola is completely over.
Marva Edward-Oculien
Communications Assistant – Saint Lucia Red Cross