HIGHLIGHTS
On 18 December 2015, Sierra Leone observed the day of Recognition of Ebola workers. The day was celebrated as a national holiday. A ceremony, hosted by H.E. President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, was held to mark the event and attended by UNICEF, international partners, the diplomatic community and local representatives. UNICEF Sierra Leone was awarded a gold medal for services rendered during the Ebola response.
UNICEF implementing partners FHM, CEDA and RODA decommissioned 11 Community care Centres (CCCs) during the reporting period; five in Kambia, four in Tonkolili and two in Kono. The six remaining CCCs will be handed over to the District Health Management Team (DHMT) for repurposing (three in Bombali and three in Kambia).
The implementation of Project Shield is ongoing. The review of the registration of Ebola survivors and mapping of health services in the pilot districts continued in the reporting period. In Bombali, the counselling of survivors continued and in Port Loko, the third phase of the project was launched with awareness raising and safe sex education campaigns led by the District Medical Health Teams and the HIV/AIDS department.
SITUATION IN NUMBERS
As of 23 December 2015
8,704 Confirmed cases of Ebola
3,589 Confirmed deaths from Ebola
1,459 Confirmed cases of infected children under age 18 registered by MSWGCA
8,624 Registered children who lost one or both parents due to Ebola
UNICEF funding needs to December 2015: USD 160 million
UNICEF funding gap: USD 34.9 million3 (22%)