The rapid spread of Ebola in West Africa has already claimed close to 5,000 lives. There have been close to 10,000 reported cases across seven countries with Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone being the worst hit.
The spread of disease continues to have a devastating impact on already vulnerable and impoverished West African nations. The crisis has destabilised communities and a food crisis is imminent. More than 4,000 children have been orphaned and health centers are overcrowded and under-resourced.
The World Health Organisation has advised that if immediate action is not taken, within two months, the spread of Ebola could rise to a rate of 10,000 new cases each week.
They have set up a 60 day timeline beginning 1 October to stop the spread of the disease and are calling on the international community and the public to contribute all they can to curve the disease.
Here is a list of Australian charities fighting to stop Ebola:
ActionAid Australia is focusing its efforts on training local woman in raising awareness of the prevention tactics in addition to providing sanitation packs and food to families in quarantine.
Care Australia has emergency teams in Sierra Leone and Liberia that are distributing hygiene materials and educating locals. They are also operating within two refugee camps where 20,000 refugees are at a heightened risk.
Child Fund Australia has set up an interim child care centre for children orphaned by Ebola. The centre provide food, shelter, care and psychological support to these vulnerable children. It is raising funds to open more centres.
Medecins Sans Frontieres Australia (Doctors without Borders) currently employs 240 international and around 2,770 locally hired staff in the region. They operate six medical centres and since March have treated over two-thirds of the world's Ebola patients.
Oxfam has emergency response teams on the ground and is helping people get vital treatment, providing hygiene kits and clean water to health centres and raising awareness within the communities.
Plan Australia in addition to public education and the supply of hygiene kits, Plan Australia is providing fuel to ambulances, sanitising public toilets and schools and assisting in burials.
Red Cross has over 4,200 volunteers on the ground that are door knocking to spread the word about prevention tactics, providing medical treatment and care and assisting in burials. In addition, Red Cross has sent specialist aid workers to provide medical care in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
Save the Children Australia is raising money to open Ebola treatment clinics, in addition to providing medical kits and prevention education.
UNICEF is distributing essential medicine and reaching millions in disease prevention information.
World Vision is educating and training healthcare workers. So far, World Vision say they've trained 750 health care workers.
