While many governments and non-governmental organisations are scaling down their efforts to combat the Ebola crisis in West Africa, international development charity Christian Aid issued a reminder that the outbreak is "not yet over."
The charity continues to educate vulnerable populations about Ebola transmission, and is providing food and donated items to Ebola survivors.
The Ebola outbreak began in Guinea last year, and quickly spread to neighbouring countries. Over 10,000 people have died, and over 25,000 have been infected over the past 12 months. Cases in Liberia have generally decreased, while transmissions in Guinea and Sierra Leone continue to trouble health officials.
"The emergency has continued longer than we had ever imagined," Christian Aid's Sierra Leone Country Manager Jeanne Kamara, said. "It's not over yet, so complacency must not set in. That's why the Government of Sierra Leone last week extended the state of emergency by 90 days."
Kamara expressed concern about diseased corpses being handled improperly during burials, the removal of safe water from handwashing stations, and lax border control standards.
"That's why we are now firmly and squarely in the area of social mobilisation," Kamara continued. "This phase of the Ebola fight is looking at how to address gaps within hotspot areas, working through cultural leaders and traditional societies."
Christian Aid and its partners have reached over one million people in Sierra Leone alone.
President Obama announced last month that all but 100 American troops sent to West Africa to help manage the Ebola outbreak will be withdrawn by April 30. The troops were dispatched to help contain the deadly virus, but the President said that the mission in the ravaged countries has shifted from containment to eradication.
Civilian government employees, aid workers, volunteers, and the remaining troops will help in that effort.
