21-DAY INTENSIVE TEMPERATURE CHECK LAUNCHED IN CLARA TOWN

Written by Henry Karmo (0886522495) henrykarmo@frontpageafricaonline.com

http://www.frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/news/4248-21-day-intensive-temperature-check-launched-in-clara-town

Monrovia - A local and International civil society and community based organizations Straight from The Heart, Monday launched a 21-day temperature check scheme in the Clara Town community in Monrovia. The initiative, according to the group is intended to help create awareness and combat the deadly Ebola virus in Liberia. The project was launched under the theme: ‘Listening to Communities; Engaging Community Partners to Know Ebola and Prevent Transmission of EVD 21 Days Body Temperature Check’.

Facia Harris, Program coordinator for the project, said it is a significant step by local and international non-profit organizations to create awareness in communities in and around Monrovia on the importance of Ebola prevention mechanisms, which includes 21 days of body temperature monitoring. “We are reaching out to 10 households in the community to deliver the education of Ebola prevention and transmission by checking and monitoring body temperatures for 21 days,” She said.

She said the team will also be providing tutorials to all school-aged children in the 10 households in and around Monrovia on how to protect themselves against catching the deadly virus, which has already claimed the lives of thousands of Liberians and people in neighboring Guinea and Sierra Leone.  “The team is working to increase the community level of knowledge and understanding of Ebola, reshape attitudes and increase awareness, promote safer practices, prevent EVD transmission, and most importantly, provide education to children in the wake of the Ebola virus carnage on the general population,” she said.

The 21 days body temperature check campaign is being carried out in partnership with several local civil society organizations, including:“Straight From The Heart (SFTH), One Liberia Advocacy Radio online Paramount Young Women Initiative (PAYOWI), Citizens Organized for the Promotion of Transparency and Accountability (COPTA) Serene Health For All Mobile Clinic Piso Community Outreach (PCO), OCI Farm Training Organization Uniting Distant Stars Inc., and the Ministry of Health Radio Journalists.

This 21-Day project will according to the group will entail preventive measures such as recording body temperature of contacts, washing of hands, distribution of hand Sanitizers and education on personal hygiene and health care measures for 10 homes. “The campaign also intends to give people the opportunity to tell their stories, their pains, their fears, agonies, joys and expectations.

The organizers plan is to highlight the stories of other Ebola fighters, their frustrations, challenges and successes, and hence cover the effect of Ebola on various aspects of lives in the communities, especially new habits, changed cultures and economic failures. “This is an adventure, which will involve community based groups and organizations breaking new grounds and reaching out to the unheard voices of the Ebola battle,” she stated.