Amid concerns about the spread of the deadly Ebola virus, a local organization remains committed to opening a health clinic in one of the poorest communities in West Africa. And a former refugee from Sierra Leone, who lived in Buffalo, is behind the effort.As a young refugee Phebian Abdulai received medical care at Jericho Road Community Health Center on Barton Street on the city's West Side. Years later, Abdulai became a Registered Nurse, and a health center employee, who wanted to return home to help her people.
"When she presented this to us at Jericho Road, those of us that were close with her, we really decided to take this mission seriously - this vision that she had," Family Nurse Practitioner and Jericho Road Global Health Outreach Team member, Heather Quinn said. "And what we're doing there now is actually building a primary healthcare clinic, in Kono District, which is one of the poorest districts in Sierra Leone."
Work began before Ebola became a household word. And Quinn said, the clinic is set to open in January.
"We believe that this is not an accident that we're there during this timing. We believe that everything does happen for a reason."
They're trying to reach the most vulnerable and the most impoverished, Quinn said.
"We're truly stepping out on faith here. There's really nothing logical about it."
Even though they don't have the manpower or equipment for a dedicated Ebola clinic, Quinn said, they're preparing for dealing with the outbreak by collecting medical supplies and donations for the relief effort at: http://jrchc.org/Support/Donate.aspx