Dr. Anwar Kahn, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Islamic
Relief, a United States based world’s recognized non - profit has requested all its
affiliates, sympathizers and Friends to offer regular prayers for the suffering
people Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, pray for the logical conclusion of the
Ebola crisis and courage for the afflicted.
The Chief Executive also requested that positive messages
with leverage and reasoning be sent out to counter negative messaging about
Ebola, its affected Countries and People and further entreat them to make
monetary couple with responsible donations.
Dr. Khan made this appeal last Friday, on October 2014
during his concluding remarks and in response to contributions made by
Ambassador Ibrahim. S. Conteh Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Sierra
Leone and his other counterparts from the Embassies of Guinea and Liberia at a
West Africa Ebola Round Table discussion held in Washington DC.
During his presentation, Ambassador Ibrahim S. Conteh
gave a brief synopsis of efforts made by the Government of Sierra Leone, Sierra
Leoneans living abroad, members of the International Community and other
interventions, and said “we need more.”
Amb. Conteh said “the government of President Ernest Bai
Koroma has modified Education, Religious and communal behavior regarding burial
and other activities all in a bid to combat the spread.
He appealed for more help to combat Ebola and said, “We
just can’t do it on our own. “We don’t have the capacity.
“If not contained, Ebola could lead to economic
crisis of epic proportions. Said
Amb. Conteh: adding, “Since the outbreak, Sierra Leone’s GDP is on track -
dropping from 11.3%.
“Developments stalled and gains are rapidly being lost.
Said Amb. Conteh. Adding “major medical and pharmaceutical needs are not just
for Ebola, but for common chronic disease and maternal health.
“In order not to duplicate efforts, NGOs, can either be
in touch with the Embassy of Sierra Leone for facilitation or be directly in
touch with our Ministry of Health.
“It is not too excessive to say we need everything, when
at the same time it would be difficult to duplicate efforts as the need
increases.
“We also need technical professionals to handle certain
medical equipment. “The supplies will be useless without the required
expertise.”
Other representatives of Guinea and Liberian
Embassies made their own respective contributions, by making their cases and
requests.
Earlier, Jihad Saleh Williams of Islamic Relief USA who
moderated the session said “Islamic Relief is concern about the current state
of the epidemic, the needs gap, and how NGOs can best coordinate. “We are here
to discuss how to effectively mobilize resources that are available in the
faith based and humanitarian community in response to the Ebola epidemic in the
three most affected countries”.
During the interaction, Sam
Worthington, CEO of Interaction said “You
have embraced the international community, and it’s time for us to embrace you.
He urged representatives of more than ten Non - profit
who were in attendance to be in consultations with the Ebola working group, to
enable them coordinate a range of groups for efficiency.
“There is not a shortage of resources, but a shortage of
focus for those resources. “The issue is coordination.”
Said Sam Worthington. Adding, “the
biggest issue is lack of staff.
“This also has to do with our opposition to closing
borders: Many volunteers won’t go unless they know they can come back.
“We want to provide nation and states with a more
organized NGO community. “We’re making NGO Aid maps that feed into the UN
system. “You can look at what project goes where, and gaps.” Said Sam Worthington.
Concluding, he said Islamic Relief USA thanked
distinguished guests for the input of affected countries and Muslim groups, and
urged them to go to work.
Some of the faith groups represented were, Helping Hands USA, American
Muslim Health Professionals, United Muslim Relief, Interaction, Life for
Relief, Baitumaad, Michegan, Zakat Foundation, Muslim Aid, United Muslim
Association of America and Islamic Relief.
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