Outbreak of Unknown Origin in the Tripoint Zone

On 13 November 2014, Manykye S. Jackson climbs stairs past UNICEF-provided water storage vats, at the UNICEF-supported WATSAN (water and sanitation) chlorine mixing station at the Ministry of Defence compound in the Congotown neighbourhood in Monrovia, the capital. Another worker on a lower level is seated near several of the vats. The mixing station provides chlorination services for a newly built Ebola treatment unit (ETU) nearby. UNICEF is supplying water to meet the drinking, washing, bathing and disinfecting needs for patients at the health facility, which has two chlorine disinfecting stations. At least 150 litres of water is required to fully care for each Ebola patient – 10 times the amount that a Liberian normally uses. The ETU is one of two built in October 2014 by UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Liberian Government, to help treat the overflow of Ebola patients at other health facilities. The units each have a 100-bed capacity. In November 2014, Liberia remains one of three countries in West Africa experiencing widespread and intense transmission of Ebola virus disease (EVD). UNICEF continues to support social mobilization efforts to raise awareness of the disease, its symptoms and how to prevent its spread – all of which are critical to curtailing the unprecedented outbreak. UNICEF remains at the forefront of efforts to respond to and help curtail the outbreak. Since the beginning of the outbreak, UNICEF has brought in 967 metric tons of emergency aid, including essential protective gear, tents, diarrhoeal kits, emergency health kits, and sanitation supplies such as chlorine. UNICEF is also procuring water, sanitation and hygiene supplies and supporting chlorine mixing stations at new Ebola treatment units in Monrovia, the capital, and is distributing hygiene kits for households, as part of efforts to promote hand-washing as a key behaviour for preventing Ebola transmission.