Finn Church Aid’s West African Regional Office got a confirmation on Friday, that a local, long-time employee, Marthaline Sirleaf got Ebola. On Monday evening, we got the sad news that she has passed away.

Sirleaf decided to stay home on November 12th when her family member got high fever. That turned out to be Ebola and all residents of the same building were moved to isolation were they received good medical care.

The staff of our West Africa office continued to call her daily and provided food and medicine, but have not been in physical contact since November 12th. Therefore there is no risk that the decease has spread to other staff from her.

Finn Church Aid has put in place especially strict precautionary measures, and therefor has been able to eliminate the risk of transmission of the disease during work duties.

Finn Church Aid expresses condolences to the family and friends of Marthaline Sirleaf and our colleagues at the West Africa Regional Office.

A silent moment was organised on Monday in Monrovia and on Tuesday afternoon in Helsinki to honor and remember Sirleaf.

For more information:
Regional Representative, Leena Lindqvist, tel. +231 880 810 518 (West Africa Regional Office, Liberia)