The journey from Liberia to Cleveland, Tennessee is long, but it is one David Kiamue II, educational director of the Liberian Bible Institute, had to make. He traveled from Liberia in hopes of lobbying support from the Church of God World Mission for support in Liberia's desperate fight against the Ebola epidemic.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of Oct. 22 the total number of Ebola cases in Liberia have reached 6,535 people, 2,515 laboratories confirmed cases and 2,413 total deaths. Currently U.S. residents are being urged by the CDC to 'avoid nonessential travel to Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.'
As one of the most dire health crisis in recent history, the Ebola epidemic has caused many medical facilities in Liberia to be shut down.
'[Because of the Ebola epidemic] you couldn't find a clinic to go to, and you couldn't find a hospital to go to because when it happens everybody is afraid. [Because] the doctors that died [and] the nurses that died, no doctor wants to get exposed to any patient,' Kiamue said.
Because of the mass closings of medical facilities, Kiamue said those who were sick were left to take care of themselves.
Ebola virus disease, that is causing the current outbreak, is the Zaire species of the virus; this is classified as the most lethal form of Ebola. Ebola, classified as an infectious and highly lethal disease, is a virus that spreads through contact with bodily fluids.
In the case of Liberia, the Ebola epidemic struck during the rainy season, causing a perfect storm for the disease, which has symptoms that often mimic many other common illnesses in the region.
'[During the rainy season] the cases of malaria are high the cases of the flu and of cholera is high and these have all the symptoms of Ebola,' Kiamue said. [Because Ebola symptoms are so common] that has led many people to die from [other illnesses] such as malaria and cholera.'
Though screening and early treatment can greatly add to the chance of an Ebola patient's chance of recovery, the costs of treatments are often too high.
'Sometimes medicine can be very expensive, some who did not have [access to medicine] die one way or the other,' Kiamue said.
Assistant Professor of Biology and former employee of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Benjamin Christmann said one of the most important things in treating Ebola is early detection.
'Getting screened soon enough when you start experiencing symptoms, if we can increase that then we can increase the chance of successful therapy beforehand,' Christmann said.
Kiamue, travelled to Cleveland to speak with the Church of God World Missions, which has been providing support to some of the members who have been personally affected by the Ebola epidemic.
'When something like the Ebola epidemic happens, it's easy for it to become an abstraction for those of us who are protected from its real dangers,' Carolyn Dirksen, director of faculty development and a current board member for the Church of God World Missions said.
The current epidemic is widespread in Liberia but there are ways that have been found to curb the spread of the virus.
'A conversation with someone like David Kiaumue is so important to understanding the real human toll [of the Ebola epidemic]. Hearing how daily life is so dramatically affected by the outbreak is chilling, but it is information we need to hear,' Dirksen said. 'I found it very encouraging to hear that the church is attempting to help by providing the means for sterile washing and basic food to families that might be affected.'
Kiamue said the fear that comes with the Ebola epidemic is sometimes more infectious than the virus itself.
Kiamue said the Church of God raised $30,000 for the area that had been especially affected by Ebola, while World Missions specifically gave $5,000 to buy supplies for the sterilizing and washing of hands.
'We bought rubber buckets that held three gallons [of water] and a certain amount of chlorine concentration for washing of hands [to help fend off the virus],' Kiamue said.
Currently, the CDC lists frequent hand washing as one of the foremost forms of prevention of the transmission of Ebola in non-U.S. healthcare settings.
Kiamue said with the money they also bought a 25-kilogram bag of rice for those who have family members affected by Ebola as well as some medicine, though their supplies were limited.
Although they have received some support from the Church of God, more is needed in wake of disruption of entire communities based on fears of the virus.
Kiamue said food markets, medical clinics and all schools have been closed due to the outbreak.
'That is why I decided to come here to lobby and to [speak about the current situation] in Liberia,' Kiamue said.
Kiamue came to speak for those in Liberia, and to give a voice to a country devastated by the effects of the Ebola virus.
