Ebola at the border

Sgt. Dongo Atta Blaise of the prefecture of Sipilou, Côte d'Ivoire, watches over a remote border crossing into Guinea. Until the first case of Ebola was reported last year, thousands of people flowed freely across the wooden bridge over the shallow stream that acts as a dividing line between the countries.

The Rev. Marcel Sachou (right) uses a video presentation to describe ways to help parishioners prevent Ebola at Temple Bethel United Methodist Church in Abobo-Baoule, outside Adidjan. At left is the Rev. Esaïe M’Ye Gnamien, the district superintendent. 

Isabelle Ake sings during worship at Temple Bethel United Methodist Church in Abobo-Baoule, outside Adidjan. Although worship in this West African country is still exuberant, the threat of Ebola is changing the way people interact.

United Methodist Scouts from the Ivoirian Scouting Federation dispense hand sanitizer to parishioners arriving for worship at Temple Bethel United Methodist Church in the Abobo-Baoule neighborhood of Abidjan. 

Parishioners listen to a presentation on ways to help prevent Ebola at Temple Bethel United Methodist Church.

Parishioners mimic proper hand-washing procedures during a presentation on ways to help prevent Ebola at Temple Bethel United Methodist Church.

Dr. Patrice Djana describes the measures he would take if he were to receive an Ebola patient at the Formation Sanitaire Urbaine Communautaire hospital in Abobo-Baoule.

Alexandre Amani, a student at the Methodist University of Côte d'Ivoire in Abidjan, watches the animated video “Ebola: A Poem for the Living.”