By Allieu Sahid Tunkara
Chief Executive Officer of Plan International resident in the United Kingdom has disclosed plans to eradicate the Ebola Virus epidemic in the country but warns against complacency.
Nigel Chapman, who was on a visit to Sierra Leone, told journalists at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Freetown, that as a way of supporting the government they had mobilised $15 million to contribute to the eradication of the disease and minimise impact on affected children, families and communities through public information campaigns.
He said his organisation would provide medical kits, food and non-food items among others.
“Training of health workers in effective infection control procedures, setting up of hand washing stations and other public facilities to help keep families safe from the virus will also form part my organisation's speedy recovery plan,” the CEO promised.
He said that although the number of new Ebola infections was decreasing steadily the country should not be complacent, adding that the Ebola Virus Disease started in Sierra Leone with only one case and spread throughout the country.
He further disclosed that it was important that the government engaged in social mobilisation and monitoring the situation closely. He said the transition and recovery issues needed to be addressed if the Ebola Virus impact was to be mitigated on the most vulnerable children, girls and women on the social fabric, livelihoods and on the entire economy.
Country Director of Plan International, Casely Coleman, said the presence of their CEO in the country was an opportunity to assess what was happening on the ground and to review the organisation's strategy.
“We are thinking ahead to ensure that children and communities are enabled to recover from the Ebola crisis," Coleman said, adding that they would partner with relevant agencies to improve children's livelihoods and access to quality education and health.
Founded some 77 years ago, Plan International is one of the oldest and largest child rights organisations in the world.
It operates in 51 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas to promote child rights and lift millions of children out of poverty. It started operation in Sierra Leone in 1976, helping poor children access their rights to education, health, livelihoods and sanitation among others.
Its programs have benefitted 700,000 children in 1,126 communities across the country.
Plan International runs interim care and observation centres for children affected by the Ebola outbreak and partners with DFID, WHO, UNICEF among others to establish and manage five community care centres, two holding centres and one Ebola treatment unit in the country.
© Politico 12/02/15
