Samaritan's Purse expands efforts to fight Ebola

November, 2014—As people in the West African nation of Liberia continue to fight the Ebola virus, Samaritan’s Purse—which has been battling the vicious disease since its appearance in Liberia in March, 2014—plans to step its efforts. And we need the help of you and thousands more generous Canadians to do it.

During the next year, based on experts’ projections of how many additional Ebola infection cases there will be, Samaritan’s Purse anticipates needing $5 million to:

• Continue focusing its Liberia-based staff—none of whom has contracted Ebola after receiving the same training and equipment they are providing to others—on the household-based program
• Provide essential help for its staff to stop Ebola flare-ups as they occur—often in isolated communities that require significant effort and resources to reach
• Begin community recovery programs once the virus is contained

A large portion  of the funding has already arrived, thanks to a $2.6 million grant from the Canadian government. That money is enabling us to expand our public education campaign to prevent further transmission of this terrible disease that has already caused more than 6,000 deaths.

The funding is being used to significantly expand our public education campaign—reaching out to an additional 35,000 Liberian households that have not yet been infected with Ebola. These households will also receive infection prevention and control kits (containing basic hygiene items) to help protect them.

The federal funding will also enable Samaritan’s Purse to provide equipment and training so  families in at least 500 households in which a family member has already been infected with Ebola can safely and effectively care for that individual at home.

“The $2.6 million grant we’ve just received from the Canadian government provides more than half the $5 million we need, and so we are enormously grateful,” said Fred Weiss, Executive Director of Samaritan’s Purse Canada.

Samaritan’s Purse has already provided Ebola preventative education to more than 1.5 million Liberians, and provided prevention and control kits to more than 8,200.

Your prayers and financial support can continue to make a difference for thousands of Liberians who are either fighting for their lives, caring for a sick loved one, or living in fear of contracting Ebola.

Your donation to Medical Care Projects helps Samaritan’s Purse Canada meet the needs of some of the most vulnerable people around the world providing funds for life-saving medical equipment and surgical assistance, disease prevention initiatives and community health programs and training opportunities. We also offer spiritual support and eternal hope by meeting these critical needs while sharing the love of Christ.