PHOTO FROM THE FIELD (29 SEPTEMBER 2016) - Treatment centers became overwhelmed when the Ebola virus struck Maforki, a chiefdom north of Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown. Given the similarities of symptoms between Ebola and malaria it was crucial to reduce cases of malaria and allow true cases of Ebola to be more easily diagnosed and treated. The Global Fund quickly mobilized funds to support an antimalarial mass drugs administration across the country.

“Community health workers went house to house to raise awareness about malaria and distribute malaria drugs,” said Alie, a 25-year-old survivor of both ebola and malaria. “They did a good job in explaining people in the communities about drug prescription and dosage."

The mass drug administration campaign played a vital role is restoring trust between the community and the health system, which was severely eroded due to misinformation and myths surrounding Ebola in a country with high levels of poverty and illiteracy.