Prevention Must be Part of Ebola Response Plan, says World Vision

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Neighbors wash their hands in a community in Sierra Leone hit by Ebola.
Neighbors wash their hands in a community in Sierra Leone hit by Ebola. PHOTO: Jonathan Bundu/World Vision

WASHINGTON, November 13, 2014 – World Vision and a coalition of other faith-based and humanitarian organizations met Thursday with Vice President Joe Biden and White House Ebola czar Ron Klain as the White House sought to build a coalition of support for expanding its financial commitment to include both prevention and treatment of the illness.

“This outbreak is unprecedented, and it has nearly pushed West Africa’s health infrastructure to a breaking point, but a three-pronged approach to prevention, treatment, and safe burial is the best way to see an end to the virus’ spread,” said Chris Palusky, World Vision’s Vice President of Private Fundraising for Emergencies and the organization’s representative at Thursday’s meeting. “World Vision welcomes the United States’ willingness to expand its financial support for this work.”

As part of its response, World Vision is training burial team members on safe and dignified burial practices, taking into account the safe handling of bodies to prevent the spread of the virus, while respecting the traditional burial practices in local cultures. Funding this work is crucial; a recent Yale study found that safe burial practices could be key to curbing the spread of the virus.

At Thursday’s meeting, Vice President Biden supported the work of faith-based organizations in focusing on prevention measures like these that will help end the outbreak and applauded World Vision for its innovative, forward-thinking approach to the crisis.

Palusky, a humanitarian relief expert with more than 15 years’ experience, said the organization’s community-based development work enabled it to be on the front-lines of this outbreak while also preparing staff in neighboring countries to respond if needed. World Vision’s emergency response team in Mali is already staffing up its community mobilization team with plans to engage directly with local imams and pastors in an effort to spread Ebola prevention messages throughout the country.

According to the Ministry of Health in Sierra Leone, more than 15,000 are currently being monitored for the virus and approximately 1,100 people have died. World Vision’s response in Sierra Leone includes facilitating trainings with local imams and pastors to spread accurate public health messages about preventing the disease; distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) items for community health workers; training burial workers on safe burial practices; and creating radio-based educational programming for children while schools remain closed.

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For more information about World Vision’s Ebola response, visit www.worldvision.org or text “EBOLA” to 777444 to donate $10.

About World Vision:
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization conducting relief, development, and advocacy activities in its work with children, families, and their communities in nearly 100 countries to help them reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, please visit www.WorldVision.org/media-center/ or on Twitter @WorldVisionUSA.

Highlights

  • As the Ebola virus continues to devastate West Africa, World Vision joined a White House meeting Thursday to discuss plans for scaling up the response.
  • Vice President Biden supported the work of faith-based organizations in focusing on prevention measures like these that will help end the outbreak and applauded World Vision for its innovative, forward-thinking approach to the crisis.