Darkness lifted... and helicopters rose

Election day in Liberia...  (Saturday, December 20, 2014)

The election was slated for October... then December. Sentatorial races were on... then off. Campaigns were launched... then stalled. It's been an "up-and-down" time for Liberians - amidst the crisis of the Ebola disease. And it does seem a strange time to hold senate elections.

But today, Saturday, the skies are filled with helicopters... and the streets are quiet. The religious revival (too close to my compound) ended at 5:00 a.m. and I started work this morning at around 6:00 a.m., on my small porch, coffee mug at my side. The first helicopter rose around 6:30 and they've continued circling and zipping across the cloudless sky.

I have to admit my ignorance around the whole election process here in Liberia. I've been too wrapped up with Ebola... to have much time to follow the proceedings. But, from what I gather... this is a hot race in Monrovia... between independent candidate and son of the President, Robert Sirleaf and football legend, George Weah.

There have been skirmishes... campaign parades and posters. But, it's a subdued time... partly because of the Supreme Court wranglings over the timing and processes of these elections. The Courts finally decided, last Saturday, to allow the elections... but with reduced campaigning.

Ebola is here... and some of these campaign activities are "petri dishes for the disease" (ABC News). But, they're going ahead with this process "to avoid a Constitutional crisis" (Lib News Agency).

I love a good parade... and have been entertained on several occasions... but I can't help wondering how this will affect the nation - amidst the Ebola crisis.

One little effort... one big impact...

Late Thursday afternoon - before the "big event" - the Joint Communications Group of the Liberian Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism met to discuss the "Ebola Must Go" campaign... billboards, media messages, banners, videos, radio jingles, etc. On that Group are Ministers, GoL representatives, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, African Governance Initiative, UNICEF, WHO, IREX and Internews (among others). We met in the Minister's conference room... and a plan was hatched. Now to execute... 

My small job was to find a "button/pin" maker (in Monrovia) that was still open and who could create buttons for President Johnson Sirleaf, Ban Ki Moon, Margaret Chan and other dignitaries. 

Rukshan, from UNICEF, suggested a place and I dashed out of the Comms Group meeting... to create something for these very high level folks. Traffic, wrong turns, wrong shops, wrong addresses... but... mission accomplished. And, wow... there they are. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Ban Ki Moon wearing the very recently created "Ebola Must Go" buttons/pins... created by the Internews guy - yours truly - just in time for the visit, the meetings and the photo opportunities. Thirty buttons/pins for dignitaries and officials... How cool is that!? 

Check out the photo on this story.
http://micatliberia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2089%3Aban-ki-moon-visits-liberia-commends-pres-sirleaf-for-fighting-ebola&catid=268%3Aebola-update&Itemid=402

Time's Person of the Year...

Really? Well... this is having an impact here... in a positive way. The announcement that Time magazine made "Ebola fighters" their "person of the year" is an interesting thing. And, from where I sit in Liberia (at the moment) it's made us all feel a little better. Actually, it's encouraging...

http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-ebola-fighters/

Let's keep Ebola on the radar... since even ONE single case is cause for concern.

Wrangling over Ebola messaging...

At the request of the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lewis Brown, and the Ministry of Health... the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, African Governance Initiative and Internews (me) spent the weekend putting together a national campaign to rid Liberia of Ebola. Yes... a daunting task.

But, here's the plan... Imagine... If everyone in the country did this stuff we'd be Ebola free. Wow...

Today, December 8, 2014, President Sirleaf launched the campaign in a small community called "New Georgia" on the outskirts of Monrovia. The community has come together to identify sick people, help quarantine folks including giving them food, water and encouragement, and getting sick people to treatment centres. This community is a success... and have reported no new cases of Ebola in over 2 months.

As the disease progresses, the strategies to fight the disease have to change... Now, as Liberia reports between 8-15 cases a day, it's become a community-driven fight - door-to-door - to eliminate the last case... because even one case means the battle is not over.

Ebola Must Go

Stopping Ebola is Everybody’s Business

EVERYBODY must:

Speak out if you know of a sick person

• ·      Always call 4455 and tell your community leader
• ·      Do not hide sick people
• ·      Do not let others hide sick people

Bury all dead bodies safely

• ·      Allow only trained people to handle a dead body
•     Do not touch, bathe or bury a dead person. Do not hide dead people
• ·      Families can still pray and make decisions about the funeral – the only rule is never touch a dead body

Keep sick people away from others

• ·      Do not touch sick people or things they have used
• ·      Keep them in their own area and stay 4 steps away
• ·      Get the person treatment quick quick – call 4455 and tell your community leader

Help find everyone who touches a sick person

• ·      Anyone who touched a sick person is a “Contact” who could have Ebola
• ·      Help health workers find these “Contacts”
• ·      If you touch a sick person, stay home and tell your community leader

“Contacts” must stay to one area with food and water

• ·      Anyone who touches a sick person must stay to their area for 21 days
• ·      Make sure these “Contacts” do not run away
• ·      Give them food and water and encourage them – talk to your community leader

Protect yourself. Protect your family. Protect your community

(These messages are approved by the IMS Messaging and Materials Sub-Committee).