An outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus was reported in Guinea in March 2014, and it quickly spread to nearby countries. Tens of thousands of people were infected, and thousands died. But the impact of the disease was even broader: Strained health systems left many without access to essential health services, including reproductive health care.

UNFPA is working with partners to bring the outbreak under control and to ensure reproductive health services remain available. In the three most-affected countries – Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone – UNFPA has supported contact tracing efforts and provided emergency reproductive health kits, clean delivery kits, blood transfusion sets, and other critical equipment.

Progress has been made: In May 2015, the Liberia was declared Ebola-free. Still, the condition of health systems remains a serious concern. UNFPA’s Mano River Midwifery Response is recruiting hundreds of midwives to help restore reproductive health services in all the hardest-hit countries.

For the most up-to-date information, please see Situation Reports.