IFRC Ebola Operation in Guinea

The Government of Guinea declared an Ebola outbreak on 21 March 2014. This is the first time the Ebola virus has surfaced in Guinea. People fell sick and started dying. With support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the Red Cross Society of Guinea, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, and other partners, has put in place mitigation measures to contain the disease and to prevent its spread. Some 400 volunteers are trained and deployed by the Red Cross in affected and non-affected areas to educate communities on how to protect themselves and prevent the spread of the disease. The Red Cross volunteers are also involved in the disinfection of home and health facilities infected by the virus, the removal of dead bodies, and the monitoring of people who may have come into contact with infected persons. They also provide psychosocial support to communities in order to alleviate fears.