Friends raise money for US journalist with Ebola
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Friends of the American freelance journalist with Ebola are turning to crowdsourcing to help pay for what they say is expected to be more than $500,000 in medical bills.
Ashoka Mukpo (ah-SHOH’-kuh MUK’-poh), of Providence, Rhode Island, contracted Ebola while covering the crisis in Liberia. He was working for NBC News as a cameraman when he was diagnosed.
NBC and the VICE Media Group say they’re coordinating to assist in paying for his medical care. NBC says it wants a solution where he and his family won’t have to pay anything.
A fundraiser on the website Gofundme had raised more than $47,000 by Monday afternoon, with more than 650 donations.
The fundraising page says Mukpo’s travelers’ insurance doesn’t cover his treatment.
Nebraska Medical Center has said Mukpo is improving.