Foreign leaders discussing solutions to the Ebola epidemic must acknowledge the contribution made by local workers to reduce infection rates.
Briefings
Sierra Leone’s Young Community Leaders Are Best Weapon Against Ebola
UNICEF/UNI169293/La Rose
On 20 August 2014 in Guinea, a UNICEF worker distributes informational flyers on Ebola virus disease (EVD) and best practices to help prevent its spread, in the Matam neighbourhood of Conakry, the capital. In addition to teaching residents critical information about EVD and passing out flyers, the worker has also been distributing soap and chlorine in the community. By 18 August, a total of 2,473 cases of EVD (laboratory-confirmed, probable and suspect cases) as well as 1,350 deaths were reported in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Guinea has borne 396 of these deaths.
