Ebola update as of June 12, 2014
Freetown, June 12, 014 (SLENA) – The Ministry of Health and Sanitation has confirmed 17 deaths of Ebola cases and 50 confirmed cases as of June 12, 2014 and One hundred and Thirty-Two (132) cases tested as from March 2014.
Community sensitization in the Kailahun district and its environs including other areas in the country has been intensified and making positive impact.
Rumours about a confirmed case of Ebola patient at the Connaught hospital is not true, and the Ministry want the public to stay away from rumours and looks forward to information coming from the Ministry. Also the Ministry is not restricting the movement of people but that the purpose of screening at check points or border crossing areas is to avert the risk of contacting the disease.
Measures have been put in place jointly by the Inter Ministerial Committee and the National Task Force to contain the disease. The Sierra Leone Police in concert with the Ministries of Internal Affairs, Local Government, Trade and Industry and Office of the National Security (ONS) have involved Paramount Chiefs and other stakeholders including the Motor Drivers Union, the Bike Riders Association, youth organizations and the Traders Union in the fight against the disease in the Kailahun district through sensitization and community education on the purpose and erection of check points in various strategic areas. Check points that have been identified by the Sierra Leone Police include Hanga, Daru, Moala, Tondola, Komende and Mano Junction. Other checkpoints may follow as deem necessary.
Paramount Chiefs have also been engaged to educate their subjects on public gatherings and movement of people from chiefdom to chiefdom and to ensure that trade fairs or “Lumors” operates within the expected conduct of the government position. Other Ministries such as the Information and Communications and Foreign Affairs have also reiterated their commitments to the task and are positively working in close collaboration with the Health Ministry.
In a bid to strengthening surveillance at check points within Kailahun and Kenema districts, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation has reviewed traveller screening forms, provide additional Personal Protective Equipment and other Universal Precautional materials. Environmental Officers, Community Health Aides, Community Health Officers, Nurses and other cadre of medical staf have been trained and given orientation for deployment to various strategic health facilities and check points.
The Ministry wish to express gratitude and appreciation to WHO, UNICEF, UNIFPA, DFID, MSF, ACF, Chamber of Commerce and other health development partners including NGOs and civil society for their invaluable support.
JAK/KK/MOHS/SLENA
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