Exacerbated by the rainy season, Sierra
Leone’s worst outbreak of cholera for 15
years has affected an estimated 32,000 people.

The impact of the cholera outbreak on local communities has
been devastating. Families have lost their loved ones; very young children have
been left with no parents. Families have been left with no breadwinners. In addition,
significant time is being spent caring for the infected rather than going about day
to day life so livelihoods are being compromised and even lost. Infected
persons are not able to go to school or work and this also is having a
devastating affect to local communities.  Women and girls are more adversely affected as primary caregivers.  

This waterborne disease has spread quickly in Sierra Leone
due to poor sanitation and limited access to clean water. About two-thirds of
the country lacks access to toilets, and with the rainy season in full swing
there is more cause for concern. Rain water quickly washes cholera bacteria
into the rivers and streams that residents rely on for drinking water and
bathing. Without treatment, the most seriously ill cholera patients can die in
as little as 12 hours.

The death rates have been higher for the urban slums than the sparsely
populated rural areas. The Western Area which includes Freetown,
the national capital, has been experiencing the highest death rate. This is due
to its poor sanitation, health facilities and its high population density.

Soroptimist International Great Britain
& Ireland
have been working hard in order to address the crisis and have been fundraising
towards efforts so that this terrible outbreak can be contained. Money raised
will help to ship anti-cholera drugs and water purification kits directly for
use by those fighting the epidemic. The UK government has for the first time
activated a ‘Rapid Response Facility’ whereby aid experts will ensure that
every penny being donated is going straight to those in need making sure that
it is achieving the desired results.

An Emergency Relief Fund was set up to grant aid for the
relief of acute suffering caused by disasters. Soroptimists are invited to
contribute to the fund and they may also request that aid be given for specific
emergencies.

Please see the below link for further information and to see
how you can assist:

http://sigbi.org/2012/aid-for-sierra-leone-cholera-crisis/