View All Blog Posts“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” – Fred Rogers
“I need to work for my country,” said Linda Harding, a community health nurse in Sierra Leone, who is helping with the response to the Ebola outbreak in her country.
As the disease continues to take a heavy toll in West Africa, health care and other humanitarian workers continue to courageously help those in need. Through the World Health Organization, we are sharing the stories of a few of the workers on the frontlines of the Ebola response.
They are doing heroic work – and saving lives – and they need our support.
How you can help:
To stop Ebola, the UN and partners need more resources. You can help by donating to the Ebola Response Fund to support UN efforts. Go to www.unfoundation.org/ebolafund or text EBOLA to 27722 to give $10. Terms: mGive.org/T*
Mohammed Issa Cisse: Nurse and Ebola survivor, Telimele, Guinea
Photo credit: WHO/C. Black
“When I started to have symptoms and heard about the results of my blood test, it was a very difficult moment. I was really afraid for my life. There were some rumours about the origin of the disease, but once people saw that even health workers like myself were infected they trusted us more.”
Linda Harding: Community health nurse, Sierra Leone
Photo credit: WHO/N. Alexander
“We appreciate the training because it helps the health workers. At first we were afraid, but now enough equipment is coming that we will not be afraid. I need to work for my country. I have the know-how, so I have to volunteer.”
Dr Pamela Mitula: WHO Staff in Sierra Leone, gathers accurate Ebola data
Photo credit: WHO/N. Alexander
“Data is very important. Without it, you are blind. Data is what helps you estimate the problem correctly, and you use it for action. Some people think data is only for epidemiologists, but everybody needs it. It is the only way we can direct interventions.”
Teacher Abu Bakar Kanu (center), accompanied by Alhaji Blalie (left) and Godfrey Bannister (right): Visited residents in Lumley, Freetown, Sierra Leone, during the 3-day house-to-house Ebola awareness campaign
Photo credit: WHO/N. Alexander
“This exercise is not easy, but it’s our work. We have to do it. The more we sit, the more Ebola continues to spread.” – Abu Bakar Kanu
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