Press Release

PLAN

July 02, 2014

Ebola becoming regional crisis

The spread of Ebola in West Africa is becoming a regional crisis, posing a serious challenge to the authorities, warns children’s charity Plan International.

At least 230 people across Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia have died since the outbreak began in March.

Hundreds more are suspected of having been infected – with the World Health Organisation warning that it could spread further to Mali, Cote D’Ivoire, Senegal and Guinea Bissau.

“Ebola is one of the most virulent diseases known to humankind with a case fatality rate of up to 90 per cent,” says Berenger Berehoudougou, Plan’s Disaster Risk Manager for the West Africa region.

“It poses a serious challenge for the authorities and humanitarian agencies to contains the virus.

“Given the proximity of the affected areas the outbreak is becoming a regional crisis with a multi-country response,” he adds.

Plan is working in all of the affected areas in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia to prevent the spread of the virus.

“With no effective treatment, raising awareness of the risk factors of Ebola infection and the protective measures individuals can take, is the only way to reduce infection and death,” says Mr Berehoudougou.

In Guinea and Liberia, Plan has been raising awareness through the media and poster campaigns, as well as supplying medical equipment and disinfectants in the affected areas.

It has also supported the training hundreds of clinical staff and community health volunteers, as well as distributing medical supplies and disinfectants to health centres.

In Sierra Leone and Liberia, Plan is a member of the national stakeholder taskforce, participating in co-ordination and planning meetings at national and district level, and ensuring the right advice is given to community members.

For more information on Plan’s work or to make a donation call 0800 526 848 or visit www.plan-uk.org

-Ends-

Lisa Jones
Senior Media Officer
Plan UK | www.plan-uk.org
Direct line: 020 3217 0220 | Switchboard: 0300 777 9777 / +44 (0)20 7608 1311 (Non-UK) | Address: Finsgate 5-7 Cranwood Street, London EC1V 9LH

Notes to editors
1) Plan is a global children’s charity. We work with children in the world’s poorest countries to help them build a better future. A future you would want for all children, your family and friends. For more than 75 years we’ve been taking action and standing up for every child’s right to fulfill their potential by:

• giving children a healthy start in life, including access to safe drinking water

• securing the education of girls and boys

• working with communities to prepare for and survive disasters

• inspiring children to take a lead in decisions that affect their lives

• enabling families to earn a living and plan for their children’s future.

We do what’s needed, where it’s needed most. We do what you would do. With your support children, families and entire communities have the power to move themselves from a life of poverty to a future with opportunity.

www.plan.org.uk

2) Plan UK is a member of The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), an umbrella organisation for 14 leading humanitarian aid agencies.

3) We work with children in 50 of the world’s poorest countries to help them build a better future.

4) Plan was founded by British journalist John Langdon-Davies in 1937 to rescue orphans and other vulnerable children from the Spanish Civil War.

6) We have 95,000 sponsors in the UK, generating £24 million a year, and 1 million sponsored children worldwide

7) Sponsorship starts at £15-a-month and, rather than going to individual children and their families, funds projects to improve schooling, health, nutrition and livelihoods across communities.

8) Plan's activities are guided by the principals of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and other internationally-recognised human rights treaties, and is informed by the local context and knowledge of the country and region.