In a matter of months, the widespread belief that Ebola didn’t even exist gave way to a gripping fear across Monrovia, the capital city.
When the decision was made to evacuate Peace Corps volunteers from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone at the end of July, the agency worked quickly to ensure each volunteer returned safely to the United States.
This was not an easy operation as logistics and already-challenged roads had deteriorated with the full force of the rainy season.
Once we, as American and Liberian Peace Corps staff members, achieved our goal of seeing all volunteers safely back home, we began educating ourselves on the potential impact the Ebola virus could have in Liberia.
Our primary concern was keeping each other and the communities where we lived safe.
Monrovia’s usual vibrancy became taut with fear as the epidemic spread.
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Peace Corps staff members have made — and will continue to make — an incredible impact in the fight against Ebola in Liberia.
Stopping just one infection can deny the virus the ability to spread to 30 or more additional Ebola exposures and potential deaths, and that means every conversation, every meeting, every hand washing station counts.
Our journey since March has, at different moments, been harrowing, exhausting and overwhelming, but every minute of it has been worth it.
This effort has deepened our partnership with our colleagues at the CDC, but also with the Liberian people and the communities Peace Corps serves.
It has strengthened our resolve and our commitment to bring Peace Corps volunteers back to Liberia and the other Ebola-affected countries when it is safe to do so, and to continue to support the CDC and the Liberian people, one community at a time.
I could not have been more privileged and fortunate to work side by side with the Peace Corps team in Liberia. I can only hope that I have made some small impact on their lives, as they have made a huge impact on mine.
