Facebook adds Donate button to newsfeed to help fight against Ebola

Ebola is continuing to spread at a steady pace in Western Africa and Facebook is stepping up its efforts to fight Ebola by adding a button designed to make it easier for its users to donate to charities battling the disease.

Facebook will pay for Feed ads promoting UNICEF posts of Ebola safety info in affected regions. The advertisement will feature a simple message with an option to directly contribute to the funds of one of three non-profit organizations working in West Africa at the moment: the Red Cross, International Medical Corps, and Save the Children. You can use PayPal or a Visa or MasterCard to complete the payment.

"In times of crisis, people turn to Facebook to learn about what's happening, share their experiences and offer support," said Naomi Gleit, Facebook's vice president of product management and Chris Daniels, vice president of Internet.org in a blog post.

"Organizations involved in the fight against Ebola are using Facebook to raise funds for their relief efforts. We want to amplify these calls for action and help organizations connect directly with people around the world."

The company says it "could become a long-term global health crisis" if it's not urgently addressed and contained. No other social network has Facebook's immense reach, and efforts to raise awareness and participation in the fight against Ebola will surely be amplified by its audience of 1.3 billion users. 

Ebola, for which there is no cure, is spread through contact with bodily fluids. About 70 percent of people who get Ebola have died in this outbreak.

However, this isn't the first time Facebook has made charitable giving as easy as a click of a "donate" button.

After Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines, Facebook launched a "Donate Now" initiative that made it easier for people to donate to those affected by the storm.