AN EBOLA charity worker is flying in from Liberia this week ahead of a public meeting in Marlow alongside his British counterparts to discuss the outbreak of Ebola in Africa.

David Frankfort, a Rotary Club representative from Monrovia, the capital city of the West African nation badly hit by the viral outbreak, will give insight into how his organisation is helping sufferers on the ground.

Led by new president Brian Jonson, Marlow Rotarians will mobilise an appeal to get basic sanitary items straight to the people that need them through their African links.

And Mr Jonson says he hopes other charitable groups and organisations from across the area will attend to begin formulating their own response.

He said: "With most disasters it is difficult to know what to do specifically, but working through the Rotary Club there on the ground can actually get things to people that we consider as basic – for instance rubber gloves, mattresses, to help prevent Ebola.

"Normally it is very difficult but we have good links in Monrovia and we thought we should do something.

"We believe that they really know the situation, know what basics are required, and know how to address the situation. They have already done great work. They are working, too, with local churches, who know what they are doing.

"Although we are small, we are in a position to help, to help make a real difference.

"Of course we will collect money but it’s about education and information and hoping to convince others to do what they can to help."

World Health Authority officials said this week that the 2500 cases of Ebola in this most recent outbreak is likely to be a massive underestimation.

Monrovia has been particularly badly affected, with health services all but shutting down in some areas due to lack of resources and medical staff, with curfews leading to police clashes.

As of mid-August, the Rotary Club in the Liberian capital have supplied 3000 surgical gloves, 10,000 examination gloves, 100 buckets with faucets and petrol slips for the rapid response vehicles.

The group contacted businesses for additional local funding and has embarked on a global campaign to raise $100,000.

The meeting, which is open to the public, will hear directly from Mr Frankfort about the situation on the ground in Monrovia and takes place on September 1 at the URC Church on Oxford Road from 7pm.

Mr Jonson said he hopes other organisations throughout the area will send representatives to hear the first hand information and begin to plan their own fundraiaing campaigns.

A street collection towards helping prevent the further spread of the potentially fatal virus will take place around Marlow in the days following the discussion.