The Ebola crisis in West Africa is the worst outbreak of the virus in history. One year on from the first confirmed case, 9,600 lives have been lost and 16,000 children orphaned.
While Ebola may no longer be in the headlines, families and children are still suffering from the disease’s aftermath. Findings of powerful new research has shown the devastating impact of the outbreak;
80% of mothers report a lack of maternal health services.
70% of communities say that children are no longer being vaccinated.
90% of people cite a reduction in farming activity.
Time is running out for these communities and millions of lives remain at stake. This is a decisive moment in the battle against Ebola.
Plan Ireland’s front line teams have been working in communities in the worst affected areas across West Africa since the outbreak, helping people respond, giving accurate public health information to prevent further infection and helping people to pick up the pieces of their lives.
Join us in the fight by donating to end the Ebola crisis now.
This footage was filmed by young Sierra Leonean cameraman Tyson Conteh after his  friend Gbasay died of Ebola near Makeni, Sierra Leone. As the whole village mourns, the body retrieval team takes Gbasay’s body away in a plastic bag.
Please be warned that the scenes are upsetting, but this is the reality of the situation.