Presidential Task Force wages war on cholera
Freetown, August 24 (SLENA) – The newly formed Presidential Task Force has declared war against the alarming increase in the cholera outbreak in Sierra Leone.
The declaration was jointly made by government, health development partners, the Inter Religious Council and Civil Society groups at a meeting held at State House following the emergency situation on the cholera outbreak.
As at Wednesday August 22, 2012, the Directorate of Disease Prevention and Control recorded 12,148 cases and 218 deaths for 11 districts with the exception of Koinadugu and Kailahun districts since January 2012.
Making his remarks, the Chief of Staff and Head of the Presidential Task Force, Dr. Kelfala Marah noted the continued increase in the death toll for which President Koroma decided to declare the outbreak as an Emergency, and the consequent setting up of a Task Force to speedily address the situation.
Dr. Marah stressed the need for effective team work with a Disaster Response Strategy on Crisis Management, and called on the entire nation for total support in the fight against the disease.
He said the focus should be on the level of how to manage the disease devoid of politics. Cholera, Dr. Marah said, is not a respecter of man and has no boundary.
The Director of Disease Prevention and Control, Dr. Amara Jambai, in a joint presentation with the Policy Strategic Unit at State House, dilated on the weekly trend of cholera cases, a plan of action on the challenges ahead and current mechanisms put in place to come up with a district strategy.
Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Civil Society groups and the Inter Religious Council gave their Inter Ministerial response to the cause and pledged their commitment and support to the task force.
The meeting was chaired by Health and Sanitation Minister, Zainab Hawa Bangura.
JAK/MOHS/SLENA
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