WHH trains Ebola Surveillance & Community Moblilzers in Goderich

Three hundred community stakeholders have voluntarily come forward to be trained as Ebola surveillance Community Moblilzers within Goderich in the Western Area Peninsular in a bid to intensify the fight against the Ebola Virus with the involvement of communities. (Photo: Cross section of the Ebola Volunteers trained by WHH & Rectour for community surveillance and mobilization)

The training was organised by Welt Hunger Hilfe and their local partner RECTOUR with funds provided by DFID Ebola Emergency Response Fund (DEERF) in partnership with Goal-NGO.

The training brought together many stakeholders amongst them are many youths, women and adults who have expressed commitment and determination to fight against the virus.

According to James King of the lead trainer from the Health Education Department at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation Ebola is a killer virus that can be transmitted through animals, bats to human.

He also properly explained about the signs and symptoms of Ebola virus which he said are severe fever, vomiting, skin rash, bloody diarrhoea, muscle and joint pain.

He called on the participants of the training to seek health care immediately after any Ebola sign and symptom to prevent spreading the disease to others.

He said fever, vomiting and diarrhoea are the most severe signs and calls on all to report to the nearest health centre for test.

The trainer said community surveillance and community Moblilzers should ensure Smooth flow of correct and timely information to the public and to also develop strategic standard operating procedures by spelling out key messages and identity channels of communication.

He also added that the volunteers should report about any person in homes or neighbourhood who develop symptoms by enhancing contact tracers to do their job without difficulties.

Cross section of the Ebola Volunteers trained by WHH & Rectour for community surveillance and mobilization

He said the Ebola Volunteers should also focus on psychosocial activities for people in quarantined homes and Ebola survivors.

The lead trainer also said that sustained community engagement and communication to be adopted for empowerment of communities to make their own decision.

He said that Ebola Volunteers should also encourage communities to establish well functioning grass root organisation for increased awareness through display of posters, bill boards, banners, radio jingles, stickers, TV and radio discussion and street to street sensitisation at community level.

He also encouraged the Ebola Volunteers to set up and monitor hand washing facilities in social facilities.

The National Project Coordinator for Western Area Ebola Response Welt Hunger Hilfe Mafilah Kellie Marrah properly explained about the objective training which he said is geared towards empowering community leaders to understand their roles and responsibilities in the fight against Ebola.

He said the training is facilitated by a local partner RECTOUR that are working in various coastal communities to fight against Ebola.

He encouraged community leaders to close work with RECTOUR in their communities to mitigate the spread of the disease.

Participants of the training expressed thanks and appreciation to Welt Hunger Hilfe and RECTOUR for providing the training in their communities and assured that they intensify their efforts towards the fight.

Distribution of stickers and leaflets about Ebola formed a high point of the training.

Saidu Bah

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