The Ebola outbreak has infected more than 8,000 people in Africa and has killed over 4,000 since March, NBC News reported.
Doctors, organizations and missionary groups have been fighting the virus in West African countries like Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Gambia, Senegal and Mali. Outside support in these countries has been critical to help contain Ebola, but crowded hospitals and a lack of medical supplies have made caring for patients and preventing further infection difficult.
Here is a list of top organizations where Americans can donate to help Ebola patients in Africa.
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Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF or Doctors Without Borders)
MSF has been responding to the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa since March and has 3,058 staff working to treat patients in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Senegal. Donate here.
Samaritan's Purse
Samaritan's Purse has been responding to the outbreak in Liberia by creating and managing Community Care Centers in disease-ridden areas. The missionary group also trains caregivers, distributes kits and runs public education campaigns about prevention and control. Donate here.
UNICEF, UN Foundtation, World Food Programme
To prevent further spreading of the Ebola virus, UNICEF is using mobile messaging and communication campaigns to counter misinformation about how the virus is transmitted in Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Senegal and Sierra Leone. Donate here. The United Nations Foundation is providing technical assistance, funding, supplies and personnel in countries across West Africa. Donate here or text EBOLA to 27722 and give $10. The World Food Programme is working to deliver food to Ebola patients and family, along with assisting with logistics, helping other organizations to get aid workers and getting critical supplies. Donate here.
Save the Children
Save the Children trains teachers, health workers, nurses and local organizations in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea on prevention measures and distributes protective kids and essential medical equipment. Donate here.
The American Red Cross
The group has already collected $2.8 million from the Paul G Allen foundation. The Red Cross focuses on managing outbreaks and increasing public awareness. Donate here.
International Medical Corps
The group has been providing health support in Liberia since 1999. International Medical Corps treats patients and delivers humanitarian support to the West African region. Donate here.
For more, check out the U.S. Agency for International Development's list of organizations working to fight Ebola.
