LIBERIA: Higher Ground International joins fight against Ebola
…Distributes Sanitary Items to Arthington Residents – By: WASH R&E “Media” Network – A charity based in the United States of America, “Higher Ground International” has joined the Liberian Government and partners in the fight to eradicate the deadly Ebola virus from the country.
A member of the Team, Mrs. Barclay explaining the severity of the Ebola virus and the significance of hand wishing to prevent it
HGI Team prepared to leave for Arthington
Arthington Mayor (middle) along with Zagamah Town Chief (Lady closed to him), displaying HGI’s Ebola Awareness Banner with smiles at the start of the distribution
Off-loading the consignment for distribution
Arthington City Mayor presenting a hand washing bucket with anti-Ebola items to a woman in front of her house in one of the towns
The Higher Ground International (HGI) has swiftly responded to the call from government by distributing hand washing buckets, flyers, anti-Ebola materials, awareness and preventive messages and in the Settlement of Arthington, Montserrado County.
The buckets and anti-Ebola materials were distributed in several communities across the Settlement with a message of proper hand washing, avoiding home treatment for the sick and to report cases relating to symptoms of Ebola on time.
More than one thousand households benefitted from the distribution which has been described as a way of supporting government’s efforts in containing the virus, according to the HGI’s Country Representative/Senior Agent Rev. Augustus B. Menyongai
Rev. Menyongai noted that Higher Ground International is resolved to ensuring that it provides the needed support to residents of Arthington to contain the virus.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with WASH Reporters at the close of the distribution over the weekend at Zagamah Field in Arthington, Rev. Menyongai noted that the distribution is an initial intervention to the fight against the Ebola virus.
He disclosed that the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Charity, Mrs. Henrietta White Holder was curious to know what the Charity could do to help in the fight. This he said led to the intervention.
The Charity Country Representative said, Higher Ground as an organization working in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector, it was prudent to bring in materials that could contribute to halting the spread of the deadly Ebola virus.
During the distribution, the Mayor of the City of Arthington who also formed part of the process, Mr. Genius White, used the occasion to admonish residents about the danger of keeping the sick at home and welcoming strangers into their respective communities.
Mr. White cautioned them to take into consideration serious preventive measures prescribed by health authorities and desist from any act that will spread the virus in Arthington.
The Arthington City Mayor further called on individuals who are still denying the existence of the virus to stop doubting, because according to him Ebola is real and kills.
“When you stop doubting Ebola and believe that it exists, the better it will be for you in preventing it”, the Arthington City Mayor added.
Mr. White noted that the gesture by Higher Ground International is a clear indication that the Group is committed to bringing improvement in the lives of citizens of Arthington.
For their part, the beneficiaries thanked Higher Ground International for the materials assuring the organization that it will be used for the purpose intended.
The residents of the area assured the Charity that all will be done by them to follow preventive measures put in place by health authorities in the country to stop the further spread of the virus.
Higher Ground International has initiated and implemented several WASH projects in Arthington, including hand pumps and a modern toilet facility valued over 15,000 United States Dollars for Moses Tuckett Community and surrounding communities in the Settlement.
The distribution exercise by Higher Ground International (HGI) was carried out in partnership with the WASH Reporters & Editors Network of Liberia-through the Liberia Media Empowerment & Advocacy Foundation (LIMEAF Inc.), and the Foundation for West Africa, with a slogan: “Clean Hands Saves Lives”.
