Mobilizing the community

for Ebola

Dr Sourav GoswamiJR-1, dept of Community

Medicine1

Ebola fight takes community approach

Involving everyone: Social mobilization is key in an Ebola outbreak response 2

Stories from the field- 1 Community Response Group:

How Kailahun district kicked Ebola out

CRG volunteer Philip S. Lukulay holding a discussion on Ebola with okada bike ridersCRG volunteers making their visit in the households and counseling the family members

The Sierra Leone communities organize to form Ebola Response Group

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Stories from the field- 2 Role of religious

leaders

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Stories from the field: 3

Role of a teacher

“I’ve been a teacher for 22

years, and people around here trust me, so when I and

my colleagues approach them

telling them how to prevent being

infected by Ebola, they are more

likely to listen,” says Mr. Kanboh. 

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Stories from the field- 4

"Wise people" help to fight Ebola in

remote villages of Guinea

“We are your brothers and sisters, we could never lie to you” says 60-year-old Marianne, as she walks from her motorbike towards a group of angry people in village Katkama. She opens her hand and offers a cola nut and a little money. It is a sign of peace and respect – and, in this case, the gesture works – the villagers begin to listen

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Stories from the field-5Spreading the word about Ebola through music and dance

“Take away the fear, don’t hide yourself. People can still survive from Ebola,” so say the lyrics of the Ebola Rap, a song written by Charles Yegba, a Liberian artist seeking to raise awareness about the virus in his community. 7

Stories from the field: 6

ROLE OF STUDENTSLocal students in Liberia

became active Ebola case finders

Ever since the closure of the university due to the

Ebola outbreak, Tony Harrison, sociology

student at the University of Liberia, has been

trying to help stop the spread of the Ebola virus in his country. He joined the team of active case

finders to go from house to house to find out if sick people are being

treated. 8

Stories from the field: 7Kick Ebola Out: By medical students

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In this campaign, medical students went from house to house to disseminate the Ebola preventive guidelines that have been approved by WHO and Ministry of Health. Medical students also distributed chlorine and soap for hand disinfection. 

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“Vaccine is a powerful weapon against Ebola. So is knowledge. So is

education”

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“Each one of us has a role to play”

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References 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US). Ebola

(Ebola virus disease): 2014 West Africa outbreak [cited 2016 feb 1]. Available from: URL: http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/index.html

Santibanez S, LaFrance A, DeBlois Buchanan A, Barnhill C. A 10-step approach for health communications with community- and faith-based organizations during public health emergencies. In: Neville Miller A, Rubin DL, editors. Health communication and faith communities. New York: Hampton Press; 2011. p. 29-45.

3. UNICEF: A teacher’s turf: Community outreach in the fight against Ebola [cited 2016 Feb 1] Available from: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/liberia_78051.html

4. Santibanez S, Siegel V, O’Sullivan M, Lacson R, Jorstad C. Health communications and community mobilization during an Ebola response: Partnership with Community and faith based organizations. Public Health Reports: March-April 2005; vol 130:p.1-6.

5. World Health Organisations. Ebola virus disease outbreak [Cited 2016 Feb 1] Available from: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/ebola/en/ 13