President Koroma declares cholera outbreak a Public Health Emergency

Freetown, August 24 (SLENA) – President Ernest Bai Koroma has declared the cholera outbreak in Sierra Leone as a Public Health Emergency.

According to a Press Release issued dated Wednesday August 22, 2012 by the Presidential Task Force at State House, further to the August 16, 2012 Press Release on the cholera outbreak in the country, ten districts including the Western Area have reported cases of cholera for which the situation now requires a well coordinated and swift response from all government agencies and humanitarian emergency assistance from development partners.

Government according to the release, is working assiduously with development partners, the media, NGOs, Civil Society, Community groups and the general public to reduce fatality rate and mitigate the risk of continued infections.

The general public is advised of the following:

• Cholera treatment is FREE in all government health facilities and cholera treatment centres (e.g. Macauley Street, Connaught Hospital, Wellington, 34 Military Hospital, Newton and Mabala)
• Always store drinking water in a clean, covered container placed on a raised platform
• Always wash fruits and vegetables with safe water before eating or peel completely
• Always cook food well (especially shell-fish and fish) and eat while hot
• Always cover all foods to protect from flies and dust
• Always wash all utensils with soap and safe water before and after use
• Always drink safe water (boiled or chlorinated)
• Always wash hands with soap and water after using the toilet, before putting anything in your mouth (eating), handling food, and after caring for a sick person or cleaning a baby.

JAK/MOHS/SLENA

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