President Koroma set March as new date for zero ebola infected cases..... President Ernest Bai Koroma has announced that Sierra Leone must start registering zero new ebola infected cases and end Ebola by March 2015. He made this statement at a town hall meeting at the Portloko District Council Hall on Friday 9th January 2015. According to the President, the government and its partners have been working round the clock to establish the much needed facilities like holding, treatment centres and more laboratories. This has resulted in a more effective and faster output of test results; the delays in getting the status of patients have been significantly reduced. As a government we have have done our own parts by setting up the structures with support from our international partners, all we should do is to end ebola by March. He said. President Koroma went on to state that he is very much impressed with the cordination between the stakeholders in the district. He added that such coordination has resulted in a substantial improvement in contact tracing, surveillance and a reduction in the chain of transmission. The meeting was part of the presidents continued social mobilization engagement across the country to review the gains made so far since his last visit late last year According to President Koroma, results so far indicate that the Paramount Chiefs, traditional leaders and other stakeholders have shown leadership by taking up the challenge, enforcing the bye- laws in the communities and letting their people know how dangerous the virus- the result is a reduction in the number of new infections. I am really appreciative of the efforts of the leaders in the district, you have been able to cordinate well and that is the only way that we can win this fight. He noted. President Koroma however warned against complacency and called on especially the Paramount Chiefs not to relent in enforcing the bye - laws. He said the battle against the deadly virus is still ongoing and cannot be won so soon. President Koroma also noted that still there were challanges at community level such as secret burials and people still keeping the sick relatives at home instead of taking them to the health facilities. Even if we have a single case of ebola in any part of the country we are all still vulnerable, we should ensure that we have zero cases until we are ebola free, he urged. Talking tough, President Koroma warned against the misuse of ebola funds. I have received several reports on how some of you are making payments difficult by conniving with those who are not working just because you want to make money out of ebola but you will be exposed. Meanwhile, the President has at several occasions commended frontline health workers and volunteers and promised that the delays in their payment will be addressed. However, these people who are risking their lives to save others have course to frequently threatening to go on strike for back log and delays in payments. There has been several allegations that certain senior officials are bloating some of the lists at the centers but no one has been brought to book. Analysts say, until stern action is taken against those responsible, such unacceptable would persist. The President will continue his social mobilization meetings in Tonkolili and Bombali Districts today Saturday January 10th 2014. ©Reporting by Amadu Lamrana Bah and Sulaiman Stom Koroma.
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 14:06:50 +0000
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