One World Link appeal in Warwick district has helped schools in aftermath of Ebola crisis

When the crisis was at its height One World Link appealed for people to make donations to send to Bo in Sierra Leone - which is twinned with Warwick district.

This raised more than £3,500 which has paid for wheelie bins to keep schools clean and buckets with taps and soap for hand washing.

Cllr Jane Knight, vice chairman of Warwick District Council and a member of One World Link, has recently returned from Kenema in Sierra leone, which had previously been quarantined for several, months and visited Bo.

She said: “ My impression was that life was going on as normal while I was there and Bo was

very busy.

“One World Link has already made a major difference to waste management in Bo, making it one of the cleanest cities in the country, so buying 300 litre wheelie bins was seen to be one of the best ways to keep the schools clean.

“They have also supplied buckets with taps and soap.

“Brookhurst School also raised about £1,000 for a well for their partner school UBC and everyone is very pleased.”

Cllr Knight had to undergo regular checks of her temperature and was reguarly required to wash her hands while she visited Mission Hospital, Kenema Government Hospital, and the Bo

Children’s Hospital.

She was also checked during the journey back to England.

She said: “It has always been a nice part of Sierra Leonean culture to shake hands with each

other and at church. However, that has stopped now and when I shook a Bo friend’s

hand by mistake, he took a small bottle of antiseptic solution out of his bag, and we

both washed our hands.

“Fingers crossed that Sierra Leoneans will never have to go through such a terrible

experience again.

“My impression was that life was going on as normal while I was there and Bo was

very busy.

“I am pleased to say that as of today Sierra leone is well over 21 days free of Ebola and is working towards the 42 days when the country can be declared Ebola free and hopefully direct flights to Freetown might be resumed.”

Next month officers from the district council and Warwickshire County Council will visit Bo to work with councils on post Ebola development plans and waste management and One World Link is hoping to welcome visitors from there next year.