Highlights
· The total number of confirmed cases rose by two this week to 3,329 from 3,327. One confirmed case was in Ratoma, Conakry, the other in the Moussayah sub-prefecture of Forécariah, according to WHO Ebola Situation Report.
· The number of confirmed deaths remained at 2,072 this past week with a total count of 2,524 confirmed and probable deaths.
· Following the launch of a project with the Ministry of Interior and Security in Conakry, which remains the focus of social mobilization efforts, 600 specially trained police officers deployed to monitor traffic in the capital and surrounding areas to ensure drivers are not transporting dead bodies. The police are also present at hospitals to make sure visitors adhere to safety protocols and at cemeteries to ensure burials are conducted safely.
· UNICEF and partners organized 1,127 play and recreation sessions, in which 909 children (349 girls) who had not previously participated were included. To date, 107,192 children have received psychosocial support.
· UNICEF is supporting a meningitis immunization campaign in 15 districts. The campaign started officially on 8 August 2015.
· UNICEF received a shipment of 13,560 family hygiene and dignity kits which will be distributed to child protection NGOs caring for Ebola children who have lost one or both parents. The kits are designed to last one month during an emergency situation, for a family of five.
· UNICEF supported the establishment of an Ebola Transit Center at Donka National Hospital, to help quickly isolate those suspected of having Ebola and preventing transmission of the disease. UNICEF provided tents, tarpaulins and technical WASH expertise.
· The school examination period continued during the first week of August 2015. UNICEF visited eight schools in four districts of Télimélé and noted that safety protocols put in place to stop Ebola transmission were being properly followed.
· The WASH Cluster’s Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) held a meeting at which various elements of the Inter-Agency Contingency plan were finalized.