CAWeC CHAMPIONS EBOLA SENTIZATION CAMPAIGN IN KAMBIA By Hassan Bruz Northern Bureau Chief It is now a little over 3 weeks when the frightening news of Ebola was spread in Sierra Leone. Even though the versions vary from one part of the Country to the other, the facts remained that it is a killer disease. The rumours of this killer disease were particularly frightening for the inhabitants of those towns and villages that neighbour with the Republics of Guinea and Liberia from where there were horrifying stories of how it has claimed so many lives. You do not actually need a prophecy to know that it was fast heading for neighbouring Sierra Leone if it had not already arrived. Speculation became rife when the very first Community Radio lectures by the District Medical Officer in Kambia Dr Tom Sesay, on the Ebola virus were misconceived by a Ward Councillor in Lower Briamia Chiefdom, who attributed the death of a villager to Ebola. The Councillor cabled a report to Freetown without cross checking with the Medical Authorities at the Kambia Government Hospital. This resulted to a fuss in the District of Kambia and the entire Country as Government wanted to ascertain the authenticity of such a case. But it was proper for the people to entertain such fears because of the proximity of those 2 Countries said to have been battling with the virus. Apart from the fact that the border areas to both countries are highly porous to a point that travellers are at liberty to enter Sierra Leone at will and at any time of the hour, there is also the indiscriminate interaction of people at the numerous ‘Luma’ days in the District. Go to the Baimoi Luma in Kambia on weekends and see the influx with people all over the country. Certainly you would like to know why there has not been a single recorded case of Ebola on to this moment in spite of all the eminent threats. Well the obvious answer for a way out is Mass Sensitization on what Ebola is,how it can be spread, its signs and symptoms. In Kambia, the Sensitization drive is being championed by Abdulai Bobson Sankok- the Director of Community Action for the Welfare of Children [ CAWeC ]-a None Governmental Organisation operating in the Northern part of the Country. He was quick to summon a meeting of key stakeholders of the ‘SUN’ Platform at his office in Kambia that saw the attendance of the Paramount Chief of Magbema Chiefdom, and representatives from Civil Society, the District Health Management Team and the Office of National Security [ONS]. A thorough explanation on how the Ebola Virus can be spread, what should be done to someone suffering from Ebola and how it can be prevented .The CAWeC Director has since dispatched his Staff to the various Chiefdoms with a special mandate to help people know that the virus can quickly spread and kills within a very short time through contacts with the wounds, body fluids such as blood, saliva, stool, and urine of an infected person. The virus can also be spread by using skin piercing instruments that have been used by an infected person, eating of dead animals especially monkeys, as well as fruits that have been partly eaten by bats and other wild animals. According to the deliberations at that meeting chaired by Abdulai Bobson Sankoh himself, Ebola usually starts with a sudden high fever or diarrhoea, body weakness, headache, sore throat, skin rash, vomiting and bleeding from any part of the body. It was therefore resolved that children and anyone else should be advised not to eat any fruit that has been partly eaten by bats, and for all to always wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating. It is also part of their mandate to let the Natives know that Ebola can be prevented by avoiding a direct contact with an infected person, and that the elders should desist from washing people that died of the virus with their bare hands. Community people should report to the nearest health facility any suspected case of Ebola. Frankly enough, this sensitisation campaign could not have come at a better time especially when there is an absolute need for the drive to continue. But it appears the frantic efforts of the Director himself are gradually been dampened by the none availability of the required support. He made a particular reference to what it takes to continue moving with the team of comedians in terms of feeding and incentives, Public Address System, Vehicles and fuel. Below are the Photos of CAWeC’s Director- Abdulai Bobson Sankoh, Paramount Chief of Magbema Chiefdom Bubu Ngbek, CAWeC Staff and some Targeted Communities ....
Posted on: Sun, 20 Apr 2014 11:16:53 +0000
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