Help Fight Ebola

The Democratic Republic of Congo is facing the world’s second deadliest Ebola outbreak. Ebola is a highly infectious and deadly disease and it is spreading rapidly. There is no proven cure and even with treatment, the fatality rate is close to 70%.

Children now account for more than one third of the Ebola cases in affected regions of the DRC but the impact of the disease on children goes beyond those who have been infected. When parents or caregivers with the disease are taken to treatment centres or pass away, some children are left on their own.

UNICEF is working to protect and support all children affected by the Ebola virus. As the outbreak continues, we will continue to ensure their physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing.

Interview with Donncha O’Callaghan over Ebola outbreak in central Africa

"People are really nervous… You can actually sense the fear they have." Former Munster and Irish International rugby player Donncha O’Callaghan is in the DRC with UNICEF. He says people on the ground are very worried about the latest Ebola outbreak.

Gepostet von RTÉ News am Donnerstag, 13. Juni 2019

How Will My Donation Help?

By making a donation today you will be helping children affected by the Ebola crisis and ensuring UNICEF’s work on the ground can continue.

UNICEF’s Ebola response is focused on five key areas;

  1. Educating communities about the dangers of Ebola to inform children and their families about this deadly disease; how it spreads, the early symptoms and when and where to seek treatment, giving them the best possible chance to protect themselves and survive.
  2. Providing clean water and Hygiene & Sanitation stations in schools, communities and health centres. This is absolutely critical in preventing the spread of the disease.
  3. Offering mental health support to children affected by Ebola, helping them come to terms with any trauma the outbreak may have caused.
  4. Providing nutritional care for people infected with Ebola and for children whose parents are in quarantine.
  5. Caring for children who have been orphaned by Ebola and children whose parents are in quarantine.
An Ebola health care worker examines one week old Benedicte in an isolation tent at an Ebola treatment center. Benedicte’s mother died of Ebola and she too is infected.

How is UNICEF helping children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)?

Despite huge progress, too many children in the DRC die before they reach their fifth birthday. Most of these deaths are entirely preventable or caused by treatable diseases such as neonatal complications, pneumonia, malaria,  diarrhoea and malnutrition.

With simple and effective solutions we can save children’s lives.

In the DRC, nearly one out of every two children under five are chronically malnourished, which affects their brain development, reduces their IQ, and weakens their immune system.

UNICEF is working to prevent this, by providing nutrition services and therapeutic food to the most vulnerable children.

A baby girl eats peanut paste, a Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food, as part of a treatment for malnutrition at a UNICEF supported health centre in the DRC.

Other Ways To Donate

You can make a donation by phone, you can reach us on 01 878 3000, our office hours are Monday to Friday 09:00 – 18:00.

You can send your donation by post to;

Freepost
UNICEF Ireland
33 Lower Ormond Quay
Dublin D01 R283

 

In the unlikely event that the funds raised exceed UNICEF’s funding requirements for this appeal, your donation will be directed to where the need is greatest.