As Health Minister Declares War Against Stigmatization, Five Survivors benefit from Discharged Package
Freetown, Sept. 21, 014 (MOHS) – As the three days Stay Home House to House Sensitization ends, Health and Sanitation Minister, Dr. Abu Bakarr Fofanah declare war against stigmatization and presented humanitarian gesture to five survivors as their discharged package.
The five survivors declared fit and healthy from the Connaught hospital were discharged to go home with a token of Le1,000,000 and Le.500,000 each by courtesy of the Minister to assist them in getting some of their needs and to discourage stigmatization.
The Survivors are three (3) year old Linda Helen Bangura of Gwent Height, Hill Cot Road who lost her parents and elder sister that were Ebola positive, and now stays with her grandmother Rtd. Capt. Omopeh Bangura.
Presenting the discharged package of Le.1,000,000 and the Ebola Free Certificate to the Grandmother of Linda at their Hill Cot Road residence in Freetown, Health and Sanitation Minister, Dr. Abu Bakarr Fofanah on behalf of the President, the government and the Ministry expressed sympathy to the bereaved family for the loss of their loved ones during a crisis he described as worse than the 11 years rebel war.
He said the Ebola has the potential to destroy a whole nation, and has affected the development of the socio-economic and educational systems of our country.
Dr. Fofanah advised the community to seek early treatment, adding that the child Linda have been certified Ebola free, and discharged healthy. He maintained that the child can no longer transfer the disease, and therefore should not be stigmatized, Dr. Fofanah re-emphasized.
The minister noted the role of the security personnel that were offering services to the Quarantined home, and lauded them for their support in ensuring the safety and comfort of the household.
Responding, the grandmother of the child, Rtd. Capt. Omopeh Bangura explained the tragedy of the three victims and thanked the Minister for the gesture she described as a package of love, care and comfort for the bereaved.
In a related event, the Minister also presented discharged Ebola free certificates and a token of Le.500,000 each to two survivors at Fudia Terrace, Spur Loop: Mustapha and Ibrahim Sannoh that were infected but survived the virus.
Addressing a cross section of the Fudia Terrace community the minister demonstrated a hand shake with the survivors, and appealed to the entire community to embrace them as there is no need for them to be stigmatized.
The two other survivors, Bilkisu Koroma and Usif Koroma, residing at kissy Road in a related manner, received both their Ebola free certificates and the discharged packages of Le.500,000 each to assist them in meeting some of their needs.
The Minister similarly demonstrated a hand shake with the survivors to free them from stigma and encouraged their household and community to accept them as fit and healthy.
At the Police Training School Treatment Centre, the Minister during an assessment of the level of case management, had a taste of the patients food, and lauded the caterers for preparing what he referred to as delicious and well prepared food, hoping that they would maintain the standard.
Dr. Fofanah as part of the three days exercise visited the Chinese Hospital Holding Centre and Laboratory site to assess the level of preparedness.
The minister was briefed by Head of the Chinese Medical Team, assuring the minister that work would be completed on Thursday September 25, 2014 to start operation.
Similar visits were made to the Connaught and Princess Christian Maternity Hospitals in Freetown.
The visit to Kerry Town to assess the level of work, and the Minister’s impression on the three days nationwide event climaxed the occasion.
JAK/KK/MOHS
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