Ebola final for LI

Fear, Survival, and Hope in Liberia

THE DAILY NEWS www.dailynews.com THE EBOLA EPEDEMIC: A Closer Look - Since 2007

Joan Curran Darkortey

Co-Founder| Interim Board Chairman Liberia Economic Development Initiative

www.ledinow.org

Reducing poverty, changing lives through economic development and empowerment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en2MgK7kdqQ

News Headlines and Top Stories My Background and Liberia’s History

Devastating Toll of Ebola in West Africa

Fear & Stigmatization

Liberia Economic Development Initiative’s (LEDI) work in Liberia

Call for Robust International Response

Stories of Survival: o Humanitarian Assistance o Education o Prevention



Fear, Survival, and Hope in Liberia News Headlines and Top Stories My Background and Liberia’s History







Liberia Economic Development Initiative News Headlines and Top Stories My Background and Liberia’s History







A Cleveland-based charity fighting the Ebola outbreak and saving lives in Liberia, West Africa








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THE DAILY NEWS | PROFILE www.dailynews.com THE EBOLA EPEDEMIC: A Closer Look - Since 2007

Current Profile of Liberia • Capital: Monrovia • Population: 4.2 million (UN, 2012) • Area: 99,067 sq km (38,250 sq

miles) • Languages: English and 29 African

dialects • Major religions: Christianity, Islam,

indigenous beliefs • Life expectancy: 56 years (men), 59

years (women) (UN) • Main exports: Diamonds, iron ore,

rubber, timber, coffee, cocoa • GDP: 1.951 Billion (USD) • 4th Poorest Country (GDP per

capita): 83.9% population live on less $1.25/day, 85% unemployment rate

THE DAILY NEWS | HISTORY www.dailynews.com THE EBOLA EPEDEMIC: A Closer Look - Since 2007

Brief History of Liberia Africa's first republic (1847) modeled after the United States and established by the American Colonization Society (ACS) (1822).

5% Americo-Liberians population ruled the country.

95% Liberia's indigenous population, composed of 16 different ethnic groups, were denied all basic rights given to Americo- Liberians.

In April 12, 1980, a military coup d'état led by Doe and assassination of Pres. William Tolbert ended of 150 years of Americo-Liberian rule.

In 1990, Pres. Doe assassination created a power vacuum leading to a brutal 14 year civil war, which included the rule of Pres. Charles Taylor.

In 2005, Pres. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Africa’s first female president

THE DAILY NEWS | HISTORY www.dailynews.com THE EBOLA EPEDEMIC: A Closer Look - Since 2007

The High Cost of War

14 YEARS OF CIVIL WAR:

• 250,000 killed, 350,000 refugees and 300,000 internally

displaced United Nations

• Some 15,000 child soldiers UNHCR

• GDP contracted by 60 % from 1987 – 2003 World Bank

• No electricity or pipe-born water US State Department

• 70% of schools destroyed US State Department

• 1 physician for every 70,000 Liberians US State Department

THE DAILY NEWS | PERSPECTIVE www.dailynews.com THE EBOLA EPEDEMIC: A Closer Look - Since 2007

RECONSTRUCTION NEEDS ARE GREAT!

Broken health care

system

Over 50% population under age

25

Economy Decimated

No running electricity or

water

Overcrowded capital city

Decomposition of family structure

THE DAILY NEWS | MONEY & INVESTING www.dailynews.com THE EBOLA EPEDEMIC: A Closer Look - Since 2007

LIBERIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (LEDI)

Liberia Economic Development Initiative (LEDI) is a Cleveland, Ohio based 501 (c)(3) tax exempt non-profit with an international focus. Founded by Rufus and Joan (Curran) Darkortey in October 2007, our mission is to reduce poverty and increase the economic capacity of the often impoverished people of the world with specific focus on Liberia, West Africa. LEDI’s primary objectives are to reduce poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, diseases, and underdevelopment in Liberia through a comprehensive approach by providing: 1) Microfinance 2) Education 3) Healthcare 4) Infrastructure 5) Youth Development 6) Sisterly Institutions

Making a Difference





Work of LEDI Building Partnerships



To assist poorly funded schools

Why LEDI? To give students an education




To aid rural communities

Why LEDI? To assist the forgotten and disabled




To give people hope

Why LEDI? A Cleveland-based charity fighting the Ebola outbreak and saving lives in Liberia, West Africa




Recent LEDI Undertakings 2014 LEDI scholars Build modern public library Provide Ebola medical supplies

THE DAILY NEWS | CULTURE www.dailynews.com THE EBOLA EPEDEMIC: A Closer Look - Since 2007

Liberia Reconstruction 2005-2014

THE DAILY NEWS | HEALTH & SCIENCE www.dailynews.com THE EBOLA EPEDEMIC: A Closer Look - Since 2007

The Advent of Ebola in West, Africa

“The Ebola epidemic that is ravaging parts of West Africa is a fast moving event with unprecedented dimensions. This is the largest, most severe and most complex Ebola epidemic in the nearly 4 decade history of the disease. It is large and tragic.” ~ World Health Organization


Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Facts The virus named after the Ebola River in the Congo was first identified in humans in 1976

THE DAILY NEWS | TRAVEL www.dailynews.com THE EBOLA EPEDEMIC: A Closer Look - Since 2007

West African Ebola

Hot Zone

THE DAILY NEWS | EVENTS www.dailynews.com THE EBOLA EPEDEMIC: A Closer Look - Since 2007

West African Ebola Timeline: Key Events -- MARCH 2014 --

• Guinea reports 87 suspected cases of viral hemorrhagic fever, including 61 deaths in the south of the country. • Scientists studying samples in the Lyon, France and confirm disease is Ebola. • Liberia confirms two cases of the virus and Sierra Leone suspects cases. • Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) establish an isolation center in Guinea, the first ever in West Africa.

-- APRIL 2014 --

• Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) warns the epidemic's spread is “unprecedented” • A World Health Organization (WHO) spokesman calls 221 cases and 146 deaths in Guinea “relatively small still.” • Mob attacks healthcare workers at Ebola treatment centre in Guinea and Liberia due to fear and suspicion.

-- MAY 2014 --

• Sierra Leone confirms its first fatality a traditional healer whose death was linked to 365 cases.

-- JUNE 2014 –

• With over 779 cases and 481 deaths, WHO declares West African Ebola response “too relaxed.” • Liberia reports Ebola in its capital, Monrovia.

THE DAILY NEWS | TABLOIDS www.dailynews.com THE EBOLA EPEDEMIC: A Closer Look - Since 2007

Ebola and the Age of Created Destabilization

THE DAILY NEWS | TABLOIDS www.dailynews.com THE EBOLA EPEDEMIC: A Closer Look - Since 2007

Ebola and the Age of Created Destabilization

Theory: Ebola bats traveling from Central Africa to West Africa without leaving a trace seemed laughable

2373.4 miles

THE DAILY NEWS | LIFE www.dailynews.com THE EBOLA EPEDEMIC: A Closer Look - Since 2007

No Myth: Ebola Is Real

www.dailynews.com THE EBOLA EPEDEMIC: A Closer Look - Since 2007

West African Ebola Timeline: Key Events -- JULY 2014 --

• The virus spreads to Nigeria, as a Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer dies in quarantine in Lagos. • The WHO says that more than 120 health workers have died of Ebola (Dr. Samuel Brisbane, Medical Chief at

John F. Kennedy Hospital in Liberia and Dr. Sheik Umar Khan, Sierra Leone's “hero” doctor dies of Ebola.) • Liberian President cancels Independence Day celebrations and orders borders, schools, and government

building closed and quarantine the worst-affected areas.

-- AUGUST 2014 --

• National State of Emergency is declared and major exodus from Liberia begins. • At 1,552 deaths, CDC director issues Ebola guidelines and warns epidemic is “spiraling out of control.” • West Point, Liberia quarantine is lifted after attack on Ebola victims and riots. • Nancy Writebol and Dr. Kent Brantley, medical missionaries receive ZMapp drug and medevac to Emory Hospital.

-- SEPTEMBER 2014 -- • Deaths passes 4,000 and MSF president warns world is losing the Ebola battle, slams “global inaction” • Cuba and Britain to send military and humanitarian experts to Sierra Leone to set up treatment center. • President Obama announces military and medical resources to address the epidemic in Liberia.

THE DAILY NEWS | EVENTS

THE DAILY NEWS | GOVERNMENT www.dailynews.com THE EBOLA EPEDEMIC: A Closer Look - Since 2007

Liberian Government Response… Late Rapid Deaths, Panic, & Mass Exodus Grips Monrovia

August 6, 2014 Declaration of State of Emergency is Too little, Too late


Healthcare Workers: Shortage • Liberia 4.2m population, 51 doctors, 978 nurses & 260 pharmacists

- Liberia between 1:30 to 1:50 healthcare workers per person - US between 5:1 and 8:1 and better medical facilities


Poverty Fuels Ebola Flame Mismanaged Quarantines: Confused and angry impoverished people protesting

quarantine conditions and inadequate medical response in their community.

www.dailynews.com THE EBOLA EPEDEMIC: A Closer Look - Since 2007

West African Ebola Timeline: Key Events -- OCTOBER 2014 --

• Britain to send military and humanitarian experts to Sierra Leone to set up treatment center. • Liberian Thomas Eric Duncan is diagnosed with Ebola and dies from the disease in the US. • 2 persons infected with virus in the US, both survived. A US dog named “Bentley” is also cleared of the disease.

-- NOVEMBER 2014 --

• Number of deaths exceed 5,000 • The White House requests Ebola funding from Congress, citing National Security, not Charity. • MSF announce “cautious optimism” with declines in new cases and Liberia ends State of Emergency. • 59 volunteers begin human safety trials in Geneva for the Ebola vaccine.

-- DECEMBER 2014 –

• Confirmed cases top 18,000 and deaths approach 7,000. • Ebola vaccine trial halted temporarily in Geneva. • Liberia begins treating Ebola patients with serum therapy from recovered survivors. • Time Magazine chooses Ebola Health Workers as 'Person of the Year‘.

THE DAILY NEWS | EVENTS

THE DAILY NEWS | WORLD NEWS www.dailynews.com THE EBOLA EPEDEMIC: A Closer Look - Since 2007

THE DAILY NEWS | DEATHS www.dailynews.com THE EBOLA EPEDEMIC: A Closer Look - Since 2007

Ebola’s Devastating Toll

THE DAILY NEWS | SOCIETY www.dailynews.com THE EBOLA EPEDEMIC: A Closer Look - Since 2007

Survivors Trauma: Fear & Stigmatization

THE DAILY NEWS | THE WORLD www.dailynews.com THE EBOLA EPEDEMIC: A Closer Look - Since 2007

Calls For Robust International Response

THE DAILY NEWS | THE GOOD NEWS www.dailynews.com THE EBOLA EPEDEMIC: A Closer Look - Since 2007

Humanitarian Assistance


Education


Prevention


Survivors

Faces of Hope

THE DAILY NEWS | CLASSIFIEDS www.dailynews.com THE EBOLA EPEDEMIC: A Closer Look - Since 2007

HELP WANTED!

How To Help?

LEDI has launched a campaign to raise funds for :

• Disinfectant • Disposable gloves • Food items • Ambulances • Thermometers • Others PPEs

www.ledinow.org

http://www.csuohio.edu/Liberia


True Heroes: Healthcare Workers Thank you, Thank you, Plenty!


QUESTIONS?

www.ledinow.org

Ebola final for LI

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