Ebola
Update: Ebola Cases Continue to Increase in Sierra Leone

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Ebola
Update: Ebola Cases Continue to Increase in Sierra Leone

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Donate NowUpdate 11/19/2014

In Liberia, the Ebola outbreak there peaked in September, and by early this month signs of normalcy are returning to the capital of Monrovia as the rate of new Ebola infections are decreasing.

Sadly, that is not the case in Sierra Leone where our partner Rev. Frances Mambu, founder and director of Faith Healing Development Organization, and the healthcare workers in its clinics continue the fight.

Sierra Leone is reporting what USA Today calls “an alarming increase in the number of new Ebola cases,” with 435 in the first week of November alone. And, according to the World Health Organization, about 24 percent of the Ebola cases in Sierra Leone have been reported roughly in the period from October 15 to November 7.

Bread and Water for Africa® has been, and remains, on the forefront in providing assistance to Rev. Mambu as he continues his heroic effort to treat the sick by providing FHDO hundreds of Tyvek suits and personal protection kits, hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of medicines and medical supplies, and tens of thousands of dollars in cash grants to purchase emergency food supplies.

We, along with Rev. Mambu, and the thousands of sick and dying residents of Sierra Leone and their family members coping with the tragic loss of their loved ones, thank you for helping us to be able to help them in their time of greatest need.

Ebola Update: Faith Healing Development Organization Says “Thank You”

Donate NowUpdate: October 22, 2014

His words of appreciation say it all – “We greatly appreciate Bread and Water for Africa® for bringing hope to the people of Sierra Leone.”

Since early this summer, Bread and Water for Africa® has been shipping hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of protective gear to the health care workers battling the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone and medicines and medical supplies to ease the suffering of those with the deadly disease.

Bunumbu Clinic, Sierra Leone

In happier times, before the Ebola outbreak, Reverend Mambu (in grey) tours the nursery at the Bunumbu Clinic, Sierra Leone

In September, Bread and Water for Africa® provided thousands of dollars in cash funding to purchase food supplies in the country that is now experiencing a food shortage, and otherwise healthy people are facing the threat of starvation.

Rev. Frances Mambu, founder and director of our partner there, Faith Healing Development Organization, wrote to thank Bread and Water for Africa® — and you, our supporters – for the lifesaving supplies and providing grants to buy basic necessities.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank you and appreciate you from the bottom on my heart for your timely support to us I this moment of great need in our land. In a nutshell, it has become extremely difficult to live in the country.”

Letter of Apprectiation – Grant Received for Eboloa Emergency Need

October 9, 2014

Dear Bread and Water for Africa® Board Members, 

On behalf of the entire staff and the beneficiaries of [Bread and Water for Africa® partner] Faith Healing Development Organisation (FHDO) I want to take this opportunity to thank and appreciate you from the bottom of my heart for your timely support to us in this moment of great need in our land.

The financial support received from Bread and Water for Africa® will be used to procure basic necessities for the running of the clinics, buy food stuff to give as relief items to the most vulnerable in varies communities.

The Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has had a devastating effect on the country. Many people have lost their lives far above the official figures released by the Government. Even in the capital, sometimes dead bodies are found in the street or left uncollected by the burial teams for more than three days! The disease is seriously affecting the fabric of our society. The economy has been seriously affected. Prices have sky rocketed and many people are starving. Far in excess of 24,000 workers have lost their jobs, cinemas have closed down, schools are not functioning, many offices have scaled down their operations, government revenue from taxes has dwindled. The spread of the disease to other parts of the country especially Port Loko and Kambia Districts – the main rice producing areas is likely to lead to decrease in the area under cultivation as the usual ‘Group Work’ on the rice farms cannot be undertaken. According to recent analysis, five people get infected every hour. This statistic will rise to ten infected persons for every hour by the end of the month. The daily statistics issued by the Government’s Ministry of Health and Sanitation, showed that for the 5th October 2014, 121 persons died from the Ebola Virus and 81 new cases for a single day! In a nutshell, it has become extremely difficult to live in the country. That is why Faith Healing Development Organisation greatly welcomes the grant from Bread and Water for Africa® to help alleviate the suffering of the populace.

Bread and Water for Africa (BWA) and Christian Relief Services (CRS) have always been supportive partners of FHDO. These organizations started supporting FHDO with material and financial support since the dark days of the Civil war in Sierra Leone. The relief items received during this period seriously alleviated the suffering of thousands of Sierra Leone who could not afford the basic needs for their livelihood.

BWA and CRS continued to support FHDO even after the war till now. Our clinics spread all over the country – Rokel village in Freetown (outskirt of the capital), Bo in the southern part of the country, Kenema in the eastern part of the country and Bunumbu village in the Kailahun district also in the southern part of Sierra Leone. These clinics treat over 14,000 patients in one year! Thanks to BWA for saving the lives of our people especially the volunerable who cannot afford to pay for cater for their health. Since its formation, the clinics have also been able to delivery thousands of women and no women has ever died in our clinics whiles giving birth!

Another great area of support by BWA is education which is very pivotal in the development of any nation. Through support of BWA, FHDO operates schools Freetown (Grafton, Hill Station (IMATT) and Waterloo) and Rutile in the Bonthe District Southern Sierra Leone. The schools currently have more than 750 students in its roll. These students are doing extremely well and our students have excelled themselves in public examinations. BWA has provided furniture, financial support to construct a permanent structure for the Waterloo school. BWA has also been supporting the operations of the school through the provision of funds to augment the operating cost.

BWA have also assisted FHDO to undertake farming activities where its employs mainly women. The project aims to build a seed bank which will be used to give out as loans to farmers especially the community women. The project also aims to especially a training institute to train farmers on methods to improve crop yield.

The EVD outbreak will impose a great challenge when it would have subsided and schools resume operations. Currently, all schools and colleges remain closed indefinitely. We may be in dire need of furniture and other school items when schools will eventually reopened.

The situation in the country is really desperate thousands are in need of food and non food items. This is why we greatly appreciation the Board and entire BWA family for bringing hope to the people of Sierra Leone.

Please join us pray that God intervene and rid our nation and West Africa as a whole from this evil virus and restore our economy.

Donate Now

If you wish to support Reverend Mambu’s and Faith Healing Development Organization’s efforts – please give today!

Our more, thanks for showing the people of Sierra Leone love and concern at this very difficult moment. This grant will in no mean way restore hope in the lives of many Sierra Leoneans especially those suffering from chronic starvation.

Yours Sincerely,

Reverend Francis A.M. Mambu
Executive Director, Faith Healing Development Organisation

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