As Ebola threatens Sierra Leone bans bringing dead bodies
The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry (DMTI) Alie Mansaray, has said due to the threatening nature of Ebola especially in the neighboring countries of Guinea and Liberia the government has banned the bringing of dead bodies to be buried in Sierra Leone especially from Guinea and Liberia.
This disclosure was made in the conference room of the Ministry of Trade and Industry as both the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and Trade Ministry officials engaged petty traders on Ebola issues on Wednesday 9th April 2014.
The Deputy Trade Minister furthered that it is no secret that a strange disease – Ebola though not yet in Sierra Leone is terrorizing our neighboring sister countries of Guinea and Liberia which he said is very threatening to us as a Government and the country as a whole.
Their stake in the issue is because the Trade Ministry is directly in contact with petty traders who go on a daily basis to Guinea and Liberia on business purposes and therefore held the meeting as an awareness raising campaign especially for traders who use to go to these countries.
The Deputy minister emphasized that Ebola has no cure but can be prevented which he said is cheaper than cure. He cataloged the signs and symptoms as heavy fever, vomiting, diarrhea, throat ache, weakness, rash in various part of the body except the face and the oozing of blood from various openings like ears, nose and mouth.
The Technical Expert in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation Mr. Harold Thomas dilated on the International Health Regulations (IHR) and the International disease Surveillance where the latter is closely monitoring 38 of the most dangerous diseases of the world though non of these diseases are still in Sierra Leone.
He confirmed that MOHS has Public Health Specialists all over the country to monitor the issue.
The technical expert cautioned that Ebola is a severe infectious disease which is spread through fruit bats and therefore people should stop eating Bats, ‘Bat Mot’ fruits, Monkeys, Chimpanzees and all wild Animals.
He further said that people should stop eating animals found dead. “People should go to health facilities immediately when they experience sudden fever, diarrhea or vomiting which is free, this sick can also be contracted through body fluid contact like blood and urine,” said Thomas.
Mr. Lansana Conteh of MOHS emphatically cautioned Sierra Leoneans through petty traders to start practicing the frequent washing of hands with soap and water, to also minimize hand shake, minimize the touching of sick people and the washing of dead bodies especially without hand gloves. Also to avoid the eating of bush meats, bats and fruits partly eaten by birds.
He furthered that in case of any suspected death the people in the compound of the decease will be isolated for twenty one days for medical checks before allowing them to join the general populace.
Present in the meeting were the Chief Director and Professional head of Trade and Industry Mr. Ahmed Akar Ahmed and the Director of Commerce and Industry Mr. Charles M. Thompson.
By Tamba M. Musa
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