Since March, when the first outbreak began, Ebola is showing no signs of slowing down. According to the latest data shared by the World Health Organization (WHO), the death toll has already reached over 4,000, with some isolated cases in developed nations such as the United States and Spain.
West Africa still remains the hardest hit, with most of the casualties found in Liberia. The recent Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan who died in the United States came from Monrovia, Liberia's capital. Sierra Leone follows in the tally with more than 2,800 cases and almost a thousand reported deaths.
In Sierra Leone, Ebola is everywhere, except in one district: Koinadugu. Its stunning ability to remain virus free after more than 6 months continues to receive praise and curiosity among leading health experts including WHO.
How did they do it? It's a community effort and the strong commitment of one man named Momoh Konte.
Forty-three-year-old Konte grew up in Kabala, the district's capital. He left for the United States where he already lived a comfortable life with a thriving business. But in May, when Ebola was already at its worst in his country, he decided to go back and help out the district, which is the largest in terms of land size but also one of the poorest. It also shares a border with Guinea.
Using his close relationship with the government officials, he inspired many changes and residents who learned to be more proactive in fighting the disease.
Konte admits he initially didn't have a lot of ideas about Ebola, but he knew two things: they can't wait for help, and the virus is spread through bodily fluid contact.
He brought some supplies including face masks, gloves, and disinfectants upon his arrival. He contributed a huge amount of Sierra Leone dollars and a renewable fund of more than $2,300 each month for one whole year. He also set up a revolving fund for small business owners, build a task force to coordinate movements of the district's residents, and established very strict rules that didn't sit well with the residents during the first few times of implementation. He moved the community to be accountable as well by sharing responsibility of fighting off Ebola with them. Such vigilance paid off when they're able to detect the presence of an infected man who came from another district.
Konte and the rest of the community are aware they are in a vulnerable position, but as long as they stay focused on the goal, which is to prevent the virus's entry, they will remain safe here.