As Bombali descendants donate 400 bags of rice and condiments – MD says urgent need for a Treatment Center

While he was giving a run-down report of their activities, where a donation of 400 bags of rice and condiments worth Le21.49 million were presented to the Bombali district Ebola Task Force by Deputy Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources – Abdul Ignosi Koroma and Alie Commoner Kargbo, on behalf of the Bombali Descendants Association, Dr Sesay of the Regional hospital in Makeni expressed concern that, there is every and urgent need for an Ebola Treatment Centre in Bombali.

He said he was saying this with a heavy heart looking at the penetration of the virus into the district. `There is urgent need for a treatment center in Bombali because the treatment centers in Kailahun and Kenema districts are getting over crowded. And we do not want a situation wherein positive Ebola victims would be asked to stay and mingle with their families at home because of lack of accommodation at the hospitals. That will obviously over spread the disease further`, the Doctor explained.

Dr. Sesay acknowledged the fast spread-pace of the disease which penetrated through neighboring Port Loko district and first hitting Makarie Gbantie Chiefdom into the northern city. He expressed regret over the deaths of 14 of their colleague health practitioners (nurses). And so far he pursued; Bombali has recorded until Saturday, 6th September about 54 confirmed cases, 24 confirmed deaths, 18 probable cases, 26 probable deaths and 2 survivors. The district Ebola Task Force comprised of 2 Burial Teams of 8 members each who are supported with an identified burial site at Community level.

The Doctor was quick to reveal what was observed as a major challenges under Case Management relates to the high infection rate of health workers. He further said that, because it also noticed that not only those working at isolation and holding centers that rapidly die of Ebola, instead others who work at general wards – often become coincidental victims due to what he called; their dealings with unclear situations. He said since this reason is a factor for their continuous fear and panic during their dispensation, we have therefore admonish them to henceforth consider any fever patient as an Ebola suspected case until proven otherwise- a situation he acknowledged as the emerging conflict between the people and health workers.

He categorized what he called, their main district strategies through the District Task Force and Emergency Operational Centers (EOC) and operates in the following: `coordination, case management, surveillance/laboratory, social mobilization, logistics, psycho-social issues and child protection. Reason for these modalities compounds the so many structures of Ebola Related Interventions, which have been our struggle to synergize the various activities of these structures so as to overcome success, Dr. Sesay told the gathering, further expressing regret over the poor response of many people put under quarantined process.

On case management, `we have got an ideal, but temporal isolation unit sector, as we struggle to complete a permanent structure which still requires a sum of about Le35million. Along the line, ADDAX Bio-Energy (SL) has taken responsibility of putting up an eight room facility at the Regional Hospital premises in Makeni to compliment the effort. And against this background, certain structures and facilities were already identified by the Task Force to have served as temporal holding centers in case of any eventuality. But this turned out futile as a result of the complete closure of other hospitals and facilities due to fear of being infected with the virus and at the end of the day, eventually left the whole burden on the Regional Hospital at Makama, he noted. He appealed for people to see reason with health workers since they have got it all to solve the problem which is also very new to us in this part of the world. He asked that media houses adjust some of the negative dissemination of information against the front line workers, and the need to collectively work together for a single national goal.

The Chairman of the meeting in the person of Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo and other speakers noted the reports and some of the highlighted challenges. Regardless, one of Mr. Ben Kargbo`s contentions was his persistent reminder that, the Association is doing all of this to help situation, but must be strictly done in line and full consultation with the District Ebola Task Force and Health Ministry to avoid complication and undermine of effort. Aside donations by businessmen especially the Lebanese committee and St. Mary`s Supermarket branch in Makeni coincided.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police-north east, Mustapha Kamara got thunderous applauses with regards his explanation of their operations which he said does not only stop at scaring the quarantined victims with guns, but further with counselling amend sensitization. `With cries of starvation and food by some of these quarantined people who are often tempted to go in search of food, unimaginably see the security personnel as enemies. In most cases, our men are put under threat in resistance by the people for quarantine process. But this is now gradually changing because of counselling`, the AIG vented.

However, few of the following locations are under quarantine within and around Makeni: Massongbo village, Rogbalang village, New-London, John Street, Syl Kanu Street, Back of government hospital, Back of PAWEL, Albert Street, Alfred Street, Masuba Road, Lawyer Street, Rogbesseh, Susan Lane, A-B Thoronka Street, Small Bunbuna , John Turay Street, Maybe a, Kabia Street, New York, Gibrilla Street, Stoko Road, Field Road.

To be continued…….

By Alie Mozart Sesay

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