On the evening on September 8, 2014 an emergency meeting was held at the Islamic Society of Washington Area (ISWA) in Silver Spring, Maryland to coordinate the American Muslim community reaction to the Ebola virus in West Africa. Led by Imam Johari Abdul-Malik and facilitated by Imam Faizul Khan of ISWA, several West African leaders discussed and coordinated efforts. According to the World Health Organization, the Ebola virus infecting and killing people in West Africa is the worst recorded outbreak.
Since December 2013, there have been 2,615 suspected or confirmed cases, including 1,427 deaths, attributed to the Ebola virus in four countries in West Africa: Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. WHO says it does not pose a significant risk to the U.S. public at this time. According to the Center of Disease Control, the 2014 Ebola outbreak is the largest Ebola outbreak in history and the first in West Africa.
Several leaders from the West African communities such as Sierra Leone, Gambia, Ghana and Nigeria gathered to share resources and plan. Representatives from Islamic Relief were there to guide the efforts. Coordinator for Islamic Relief, Belkacem Nahi, said that even though Islamic Relief does not have an office in West Africa, it does have local connections. Nahi said those wishing to help needed to know what capacity aid West Africa can handle.
Education, isolating infected people, and good nutrition has helped in this outbreak, said Dr. Mohammad Jack of Howard University, presenting the medical facts about the disease, its treatment and transmutation. The meeting was called by Imam Johari Abdul-Malik, Outreach Director for Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center, and executive committee member of the Council of Muslim Organizations of Greater Washington.
A multi-ethnic taskforce was formed aimed at addressing how to: develop a public advocacy campaign to encourage the US government to provide a robust response to the crisis; coordinate the material support drives around the region to collect “in-kind” donations for medicines and medical supplies; and to coordinate fundraising efforts in the region to raise money to support authorized relief organizations efforts, according to Imam Johari Abdul-Malik.
The coalition spoke to the Ambassador of The Gambia to coordinate efforts and ensure that aid gets to the people in need. To date The Gambia has not seen any cases of Ebola, but they are executing a material support drive for medical supplies needed in the area of the epidemic. Efforts by volunteer groups such as Ebola Free Gambia were shared at Tuesday’s meeting.
“Since the meeting we have meet with the Ambassador of The Republic of The Gambia and representatives and the CEO of Islamic Relief who have all given their support to this effort. We hope to meet with representatives from the governments of Sierre Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Senegal on Tuesday afternoon get there support in delivering the support from the Washington, DC community,” said Imam Johari.
Advocacy at the State Department level is needed to ensure that humanitarian aid will be able to cross borders without corruption, suggested Nahi from Islamic Relief.
Subie Bangura from Sierra Leone broke down in tears at the thought they could help get millions of dollars in aid to her country of origin as she had received reports of dire need. “An entire hospital has been shut down [because] the beds have been used by Ebola patients so they could not be used by other patients,” she says. No specific vaccine or medicine has been proven to be effective against Ebola. A vaccine is under research by two pharmaceutical companies.
AFP announced on Monday that President Barack Obama will try to "turn the tide" on the Ebola epidemic Tuesday by ordering 3,000 US military personnel to West Africa to curtail its spread and China also dispatched more experts to the region.
Another open meeting was planned for Tuesday September 16, 2014 at ISWA to plan fundraising and other relief work. A fundraising dinner is planned at ISWA in two weeks.
A pediatrician, Dr Sayed Farooqui asked the task force to discuss a communal response for children who attend public school who may be exposed to bigotry based on false information. “Short responses that children can give to deter hate and fear.”
Needed supplies include but are not limited to: Gloves, Hand Sanitizers, Alcohol Swabs, Tylenol, Facial Masks. Bleach Wipes, Plastic sheeting, plastic cups, body bags, cholera mattresses,Syringes, Disposable Diapers, Hydrogen Peroxide, Goggles, Chlorine Bleach, Antibacterial Soap, Sanitary Pads, Isolation Gowns, Biohazard Trash Bags, Surgical Boot Covers, Monetary Donations of Any Denomination. Drop off locations: Muslimat Al Nisaa office 5115 Liberty Heights Ave, Baltimore, MD 21207 and the Islamic Society Washington Area (ISWA), 2701 Briggs Chaney Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20905.
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