Categories: News

Africans Respond To Ebola

(New York, NY, October 22, 2014) Africans in the Diaspora (AiD) and Villages in Action are pleased to announce the launch of Africa Responds.

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Africa Responds is a collaborative platform through which African organizations and allies pool their resources, networks, and collective voices to end the Ebola outbreak.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Ebola has infected more than 9,000 people and claimed the lives of 4,500, mostly in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.

“As the Ebola outbreak unfolded, we followed the response from communities on the ground,” said Solome Lemma, AiD founder and executive director. “We spoke to grassroots organizations in Liberia and Sierra Leone, which are fighting for their communities by building makeshift treatment centers, conducting community education, and supporting affected individuals and families.”

“They were doing it all on their own and receiving little attention and support. We decided this is where Africans everywhere have an important role to play,” explained Lemma.

“Africans in the diaspora send $60 billion a year to our families. We have the resources within our communities to contribute significantly to the fight against Ebola,” said TMS Ruge, founder of Villages in Action, “This outbreak is a challenge for all Africans, on the continent and in the diaspora, to act. This is our opportunity to come together and do something that matters.”

Africa Responds will support the local efforts of four organizations in Liberia that are working to end Ebola: Africare, FACE Africa, THINK, and HOPE. These organizations are conducting community mobilization activities, providing support to individuals who are sick, and supporting frontline responders, like healthcare workers and burial teams.

Africa Responds will also promote informed dialogue through blogs, op-eds, social media conversations, and outreach events.

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About Africa Responds

Africans in the Diaspora (AiD) and Villages in Action, two African-led organizations, organized Africa Responds. The initiative is driven by a network of organizations including Diaspora African Women’s Network, International Development Exchange, HOW Fund, and Liberty and Justice. AiD will manage the funds mobilized through Africa Responds, with support from International Development Exchange. Together, these organizations have over 30 years of grantmaking experience, including managing funds in emergencies. To learn more: africaresponds.org.

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