Edmonton families lose relatives to Ebola in West Africa

Ebola has claimed 887 lives in West Africa since the start of the outbreak and some of those people are relatives of people who livein Edmonton.

Five local families with connections to Africa have lost twelve relatives to the disease.

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John Gaye from the Liberian Friendship Association says one woman has six family members who died from Ebola her brother, his wife and their four children.

"They lived in the same house,"Gaye told the CBCs Tim Adams.

Gaye says the local community wants to help fight the outbreak in Africa, not by raising money, but by sending medical supplies to protect healthcare workers.

"Whatever help we can get in terms of protective gear for medical practitioners and supplies like hand sanitizers, gloves," he said.

Gaye is hoping to convince the provincial government to help out. He says the effort will also need a little bit of money to pay for shipping.

• ON MOBILE: Listen to John Gayehere