Calls from the United Nations for $600 million are to be boosted with a $50 million donation by philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates as an effort to help fight the epidemic spree across West Africa. 

The money will go toward the purchase of medical supplies and strengthening of existing healthcare systems as well as research into the possible cures and vaccines for Ebola.

Since Liberia is the country facing the worst epidemicity in West African history, Sarah Crowe, a Unicef health worker Liberia, believes that it’s a biological war, while Karin Landgren, the UN secretary-general’s special representative for Liberia, described the outbreak as a "latter-day plague,” saying Liberians are facing the greatest threat since their war.

The good part however is that efforts of blood therapy from Ebola survivors are working miracles; Dr Rick Sacra, who contracted Ebola on a mission to Liberia is on the verge of recovery because of blood from Dr Kent Brantly, the US doctor who recovered from the disease.

The small but nevertheless good news is about a 65-year-old man in Rwanda who believes that changing his previous deformity monicker is worth after having a successful cleft lip surgery last week.

Fidel Kabali, whose last name means a person with a cleft-lip in Kinyarwanda, told The New Times that only a fresh name suits his new look.

This resident of Tabagwe Sector, Nyagatare District, was among the 46 beneficiaries of the ‘Help a Child Face Tomorrow (HCFT) Foundation’ free cleft lip operation conducted in Rwamagana hospital.

Because of the operation, Kibali and others do not have to stand up with stigma. That a 65-year-old should make such a radical decision is telling of the level of stigma associated with deformity.

Cleft lip is the most common congenital deformity in the world. It occurs in approximately one in 750–1,000 live births. ‘Help a Child Face Tomorrow’ Kenya, was led by Dr Meshach Ong’uti who says all operations carried out in Rwanda were successful.

In the season of the heavy rains, government has warned the public to watch out for safety from lightening by refraining from travelling using bicycles, motorcycles as well as using televisions and mobile phones while it’s raining.

health@newtimes.co.rw