ZERO EBOLA CAMPAIGN

We implemented an urgently needed response to the recent Ebola outbreak in affected countries (Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria).

Our Healthcare Taskforce Champion and Board Member Zeinab Camara and Akon attending a Zero Ebola outreach campaign in Guniea.

Our healthcare taskforce built a communication and engagement framework focused on awareness and prevention. This was supported by in-country education, co-ordination of resources and distribution of preventative kits to schools, orphanages and women across the region. It also included a response to the negative and generalised media coverage of the epidemic that exacerbated the situation. The Mayor of Paynesville, Liberia Cyvette Gibson and Chapter head of Africa 2.0 Liberia has been actively fighting Ebola in Liberia and successfully declared the country Ebola-Free as of late 2015!

The current outbreak of Ebola was a global challenge which needed to be addressed quickly and in a co-ordinated manner involving and empowering Africans. At the time of our interventions, only 10-15% of the $1.9bn pledged in funds was reaching the affected communities, and despite a plethora of well-intended initiatives, these were highly uncoordinated. The real fight against Ebola happens at a community level, street after street, by raising awareness and engaging affected people in the prevention of the spread of the disease.

Our engagement framework provided clear pathways for anyone at any level (individuals, communities, organisations or countries) to play a part. It included:

• The real facts about Ebola and the Ebola outbreak – without sensationalising or detrimental stereotypes currently favoured by most media reports.
• A clear 5-step approach to eradicating Ebola globally, as recommended by the Global Ebola Response Coalition.
• A detailed action plan that allows easy navigation of the short, medium and long-term actions that must be taken at a local level.
• A communications plan outlining key stakeholders and the messages that must break through.
• A rich resource pack to guide you in your action.

In the immediate term, the main objective of this co-ordinated response was to stop the spread of Ebola, and its detrimental impact on individuals and society as a whole. However, this approach also addressed the broader systemic issues including the negative stereotypes currently being propagated worldwide, the social and economic impact on the countries affected and the need for reform to healthcare and education systems.