Tag archives for Ebola

Tracking Rumors to Contain Disease: The Case of DeySay in Liberia’s Ebola Outbreak

Posted by Beatrice M. Spadacini on Thursday, September 22nd 2016

Ambulances at the site of an Ebola flare-up in Margibi County, Liberia. /Kate Thomas

Rumors spread misinformation, fuel mistrust, cause panic and sometimes even prompt irrational behaviors. This is particularly true in the context of a health emergency when accurate information about a disease—how to prevent, detect, contain and treat it—can mean the difference between staying healthy or becoming infected and, in the worst case scenario, dying from it. […]

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Ebola’s Second Punch: Hunger

Posted by Michael Stulman on Tuesday, June 28th 2016

Children from over 4,000 vulnerable families could eat three healthy meals a day after their parents used cash transfers from Catholic Relief Services to invest in their farms and buy food. / Michael Stulman, CRS

Travel restrictions meant to contain Ebola also kept farmers from their fields, harvests and the markets.

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Resilient Health Systems Can Prevent and Contain Pandemics

Posted by Irene Koek on Tuesday, May 24th 2016

A technician swabs the throat of a duck at Bangkok’s Klongtoey Market during an avian influenza survey. / Richard Nyberg, USAID

Resilient health systems can help us mitigate disease outbreaks and avert pandemics. This entails being able to detect and respond to emerging diseases threats, bounce back when adversity strikes, address a wide range of health challenges and offer innovative solutions.

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More Community Health Workers Needed for a Healthier World

Posted by Katie Taylor on Thursday, February 25th 2016

Mbour 1 Health Post in the Community of Ndiébél, Thies, Senegal

Community health workers are vital in the effort to achieve global goals and help women and children survive, thrive and transform for the better the communities in which they live.

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‘We Are Grateful’: How One Liberian School Has Battled Ebola

Posted by Denise Rollins on Friday, December 18th 2015

Children at the Lango Lippaye Elementary, Junior and Senior High School in Kakata, Liberia. / Courtney Babcock, USAID

Ebola devastated the school systems in Liberia and kids spent an entire year out of school. A firsthand account of USAID’s commitment to getting kids back to school.

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Unprecedented Coordination Helped Turn the Tide of an Unprecedented Outbreak

Posted by Justin Pendarvis on Tuesday, December 15th 2015

Because of our work in Liberia and other affected countries, local health systems are increasingly poised to maintain control and prevent future large-scale outbreaks themselves. / Morgana Wingard/USAID

The Ebola outbreak was unprecedented. Organizations from around the world worked together on an unprecedented scale to turn the tide against the deadly disease.

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Strong Border Management is Vital to the Fight against Ebola

Posted by Al Dwyer on Friday, November 27th 2015

USAID and the International Organization for Migration are working with the governments of countries affected by Ebola to increase surveillance and data collection at land border crossings, airports and seaports. / International Organization for Migration

By improving surveillance and promoting good hygiene at land border crossings, seaports and airports in West Africa, USAID and its partners helped slow the spread of the Ebola outbreak.

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Q&A: The Legacy of West Africa’s Ebola Crisis

Posted by Clara Wagner on Tuesday, August 25th 2015

USAID’s Senior Ebola Coordinator Denise Rollins (right), Mission Director John Mark Winfield (second from right) and Bureau of Legislative and Public Affairs staffer Kate Alexander listen as a staff member of DuPort Road Clinic in Paynesville, Liberia speaks to them. / Jonta Williams, USAID

In this Q&A series, we interview Denise Rollins, senior coordinator of USAID’s Africa Ebola Unit, who liaises with other U.S. Government agencies to help West African countries strengthen their ability to respond to future disasters.

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The Heart of Progress: Transformation in Africa

Posted by Eric Postel on Friday, July 24th 2015

A community solution provider in rural Senegal, Hapsatou Kah is giving her community access to better health and nutrition. / Morgana Wingard, USAID

This week, President Obama travels to Africa to see how U.S. development efforts have helped transform communities. USAID helped deliver this change, but our results aren’t just numbers. The people behind our work–more than any statistic–reflect the meaning of our progress.

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