It's been 12 years since Charles Kawa fled Monrovia in Liberia due to civil war, yet his heart remains in the city now in the grip of an Ebola epidemic.
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Each week, Mr Kawa and other members of the Illawarra Liberian community hear of another death of a family member or friend from the deadly virus, which has killed more than 2400 people in five African countries.
The World Health Organisation has warned that the epidemic is spreading ‘‘exponentially’’ in Liberia, where more than half the deaths have been recorded.
Mr Kawa, president of the Liberian Association of South Coast, said members were launching an awareness and fund-raising campaign this month to assist their former countrymen and women.
‘‘We want to raise awareness of what is happening in Liberia and to raise funds so we can send over basic medical supplies for those infected as well as protective equipment for health workers,’’ he said.
‘‘Before the outbreak, health services were poor – now access to health services have worsened due to the demand and also due to the number of health workers who have been killed by the disease.’’
Mr Kawa spent five years in a refugee camp in Ghana before arriving in Australia with his wife, Comfort, seven years ago.
They live in Wollongong with their two small children and have received much support from the region’s Liberian community.
‘‘Now we are all shocked by the Ebola outbreak and many members have been personally affected,’’ he said. ‘‘I have lost good friends and last weekend, one woman in our community learnt about the death of four family members in just one day.’’
Mr Kawa said the idea of a ‘‘deadly and contagious virus with no cure’’ was terrifying for Liberians.
He said some nurses were refusing to work in the west African country until they were issued with protective equipment, while some people were too frightened to care for infected family members.
He urged the Illawarra community to attend the group’s Ebola awareness and fund-raising campaign launch on Saturday, September 27, at Unanderra community hall from 5.30pm.
‘‘We would like to get support from any local churches, businesses or organisations, or individuals, for this important campaign,’’ Mr Kawa said.