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Despite Ebola, Dry Season Means Construction Season

11/17/2014

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     The Ebola situation continues to be a mixture of extremes, with some areas dramatically improving and others seeing equally dramatic increases in cases.  First, the positive -- no cases in Tunkia Chiefdom, and no cases for the past two weeks in all of Kenema District -- cause for thanksgiving.  Bonthe District to the southwest has had no cases for over 50 days and has been declared Ebola-free.  All the quarantined villagers in Peri and Jalla have been released.  For the outreach teams, though, emphasizing vigilance is still essential, as one case from elsewhere could ignite a whole new conflagration.
     And the situation elsewhere is mostly grim.  The number of cases reported in the country as a whole doubled last week.  Freetown, Port Loko, Makeni, and Kambia continue to be centers of infection.  The two Ebola cases in Mali that Munir mentioned several weeks ago, all but forgotten as unfounded rumor, were finally reported in mainstream media this week.  The number there has increased to 7 cases, with 450 contacts being monitored.  Also, tonight the death of Dr. Martin Salia, who was sent to the US for treatment but arrived in critical condition, was announced.
     Nevertheless, in the village, plans are underway for dry season, when construction is possible.  Materials are being purchased and stored now, while prices are still at their offseason lows.  Three new villages will join the six already participating, and a total of 41 new houses are planned -- the most ever.  Latrines will be built, cotton and palm fruit will be harvested, the school will be expanded.  So even with the restrictions imposed by the presence of Ebola in the country, progress can be made -- in some cases, unprecedented progress.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                  S.C.
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Villages Stockpile; Elsewhere, Hospitals Struggle 

11/10/2014

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     Once again, good news in Tunkia Chiefdom -- still no Ebola cases reported.  And there have been no cases reported in Kenema District as a whole for the past 10 days -- an extraordinary turnaround.  The news is much more somber elsewhere -- Freetown and Makeni are still in dire straits.  The government hospital in Kambia has now been closed due to inability to handle the number of Ebola cases. The number of cases reported across the country as a whole has not decreased.  On the other hand, the number reported per week has not increased appreciably, either -- the exponential cascade being predicted as a worse-case scenario has not materialized at this point.  And, 119 British doctors and nurses arrived this week to set up additional treatment capacity. 
     Local travel restrictions have been eased slightly -- according to Fodei, he is being allowed to travel within the Kenema District as long as he has documentation that he is from Tunkia Chiefdom and tests fever-free.  Fears of a local food shortage have also eased, as the harvesting of upland rice has begun.  This means that the teams have successfully bridged the 29 villages they serve to harvest time, and a steady food supply for the next six months or more.  There are reports of harvesting difficulties in other areas where Ebola is not contained, however, and if true, this will create some very major challenges in terms of food supply over the next year. SC
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    Authors:

    SC (Steve Cameron) Founder Former Peace Corps Volunteer, Father

    BM (Braima Moiwoi)
    Co-Founder, artist, story-teller, Native Leonean

    DAG (Daniel Green) Advancement Officer, Grant Writer, Relations

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