Marampa chiefdom joins Ebola campaign
Lunsar, July 17 (SLENA) – A campaign to help people in distant towns and Villages know about the Ebola disease has commenced in Marampa Chiefdom in the northern district of Port Loko.
The week long sensitization campaign which is organized by the Chiefdom Health Committee with support from the London Mining Company Limited, is aimed at educating people in all the seven sections of the chiefdom on the dangers and preventive measures of this disease.
At the Magbele town market where the first meeting was held, the Secretary to the Marampa Chiefdom Health Committee, Abdul O. Turay who doubles as the Special Assistant to Paramount Chief Koblo Queen 11, briefed the gathering on the circumstances that culminated in the formation of the Committee.
He said it was principally formed out of the determination of Paramount Chief Koblo Queen 11 to protect his people from the spread of the Ebola virus in his chiefdom. He said even though the Paramount Chief could not avail his physical presence at the very first campaign meeting due to some unavoidable reasons, yet he remained very much perturbed over the devastating effects of the disease and would like people to treat the issue with the deserved seriousness.’ Mr. A O T’ as he is popularly known, went on to introduce the Committee Members which comprised of Key stakeholders including representatives of Ward councillors, religious leaders, traditional authorities, herbalists, traders union, women and youth groups.
His staement was buttressed by Constituency 50 Chairman of the ruling All Peoples Congress Party, Paul Santigie Sesay who said ebola is real, it is right here in the country and has even claimed quite a lot of very useful lives.
He outlined the importance President Ernest Bai Koroma and his government have attached to the fight against Ebola in the country, adding that President Koroma himself, his Vice and Cabinet Ministers have all consented to have 50 percent of their monthly salaries deducted in a bid to finance the fight against the disease.
Chairman Paul Santigie Sesay said the issue of ebola is so serious that there is need for people to disassociate it from politics, noting that even though he is mindful of the importance of trade fairs in the upkeep of homes, government has put a temporal stop to the operations of ‘Lumas’ because such operations pose a sure way through which the disease could be transmitted. He therefore urged for the kind understanding and compliance of every one, adding that normal operations will resume as soon as the disease is contained.
Abass T Koroma, an Environmental Health Officer and Chairman of the Marampa Health Committee gave a brief history of how the disease came to Sierra Leone from neighbouring Guinea through a herbalist that was resident in Kailahun. He gave a vivid analysis of the mode of its transmission, as well as the methods through which it can be prevented.
He said those suffering from very high fever, acute headaches, severe vomiting and diarrhoea should be rushed to the nearest health centres or hospitals without delay, stressing that even though Ebola kills and has no known cure at the moment, yet it can be prevented, adding that it is the more reason why any suspected case should be immediately reported. He said the disease has claimed the lives of over 100 people nationwide, including 8 medical practitioners three referred, nurses and two Community Health Officers. He therefore urged all to refrain from what he referred to as the eating of ‘bush meat’ especially monkeys, chimpanzees, and fruits such as mangoes that have been partly eaten by bats.
Earlier in his statement, the Lunsar Town Chief, Alfred Kamara who chaired the meeting, interpreted the speech of His Excellency President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma with emphasis on the timely report of any suspected case of Ebola. He said the issue of Ebola is so important that it requires some basic understanding by all and sundry especially the locals in distant places. He said the Marampa Chiefdom Administration has therefore decided to educate the Inhabitants on the dangers of Ebola as a preventive measure.
Several concerns were made by community members ranging on the closure of the Magbele Luma, the number of limited health facilities in their localities and the fate of school going pupils particularly those waiting to take the Basic Education Certificate Examination.
By Hassan Bruz
Credit SLENA
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