UNICEF receives €50,000 from Leocem Cement Factory to fight against Ebola
Freetown, 22 September 2014 – Today, the cement manufacturing company, Leocem donated €50,000 ($64,500) to UNICEF as part of their contribution in the fight against the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone. The Managing Director of Leocem handed over the cheque to UNICEF Deputy Representative, Gopal Sharma at the UNICEF Country Office in Freetown.
The first case of Ebola was reported in Sierra Leone in May this year in Kailahun District. Since then the disease has been spreading in the country with almost every district now affected. As at 21 September, at total of 501 people are confirmed dead out of a total of 1,696 but 374 have survived the disease and were discharged from treatment facilities.
“Leocem is happy to be part of the fight against the Ebola disease and with our collective collaboration with UNICEF and other partners, Ebola will surely be eliminated”, said Mr Arne Johansen, Managing Director of Leocem.
Misconceptions, myths and mistrusts have been fuelling the spread of the disease in several communities especially in Kenema and Kailahun Districts. Widespread denials are posing significant challenges in educating communities, especially those affected by the disease. The recently concluded Ose to Ose (House-to-house) campaign was a demonstration of how we could reach many households with much needed information and education on Ebola prevention.
“The contribution of Leocem will contribute to fighting the spread of the disease and changing attitudes and behavior”, said Gopal Sharma, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Sierra Leone. “UNICEF is spearheading Social Mobilization campaigns in communities across the country so that they are reached with the right information and education on Ebola and with support like this, we are hopeful that positive attitude and behavior will be enhanced”.
The money will go towards strengthening UNICEF work on Social Mobilization. In order to enhance positive behavior and attitude changes towards the disease and address stigma and discrimination UNICEF is intensifying Social Mobilization campaigns in all thirteen districts through community engagement and mobilization via street-to-street announcements, house-to-house mobilization, and awareness-raising using vehicles and motorcycles equipped with public address systems.
UNICEF is a member of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and supports activities in five of the Pillars Groups that have been set up under the Ebola Operations Center & National Ebola Taskforce: Coordination; Social Mobilization, Surveillance and Laboratory, Logistics, and Child Protection/Social Protection pillar.
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About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org
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For more information, please contact:
Issa Davies, Communication Officer, External Relations and Advocacy, UNICEF,
idavies@unicef.org Tel: + (232) 76 601 310
About Leocem
Leocem is the trade name of the Sierra Leone Cement Corporation. Leocem is owned by the Heideberg Cement Group which is the second largest cement producer in the world. Leocem produces quality Portland cement for the Sierra Leonean market.
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