Ebola's having devastating consequences on the fight against HIV in Liberia
I’ve noticed that over the past few weeks, the Ebola outbreak seems to be attracting less and less attention. Some of that could be due to reports that cases are on the decline in Liberia and Guinea (although the situation in Sierra Leone is still very serious) or because there are currently no people being treated for the virus in the US.
The problem with that lack of attention is that, in the face the epidemic, many countries have been unable to cope with other threats to public health like HIV/AIDS.
In Liberia alone, there are over 30,000 people currently suffering from HIV. Many of them are now in the midst of a real crisis.
Before the Ebola outbreak, 70% of them had access to care at more than 144 health clinics.
Today, more than 60% of those clinics have closed.
These numbers are staggering, with the collapse of the health system in Liberia, the progress that had been made against HIV is at risk of being lost.
The issue underscores the need to make sure that the response to the Ebola crisis does not waver. Over the next few years, the healthcare systems in affected West African countries will have to be almost completely rebuilt.
In the short term, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is still having huge issues recruiting health workers to go to Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone to tackle Ebola and diseases like HIV/AIDs.
That’s why we still need your help. We need to make sure health workers who go to West Africa are treated with gratitude, not stigma.
Click the link below to Thank Yale’s President Peter Salovey for his groundbreaking work in support of Ebola Health Workers.