Ambassador Stevens explores more areas of intervention to fight Ebola in Sierra Leone

The current Ebola outbreak ravaging the West African sub-region continues to attract more International attention.

While world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York are calling on concerted and integrated efforts to contain the deadly virus, experts and politicians have held an international conference “’Defeating Ebola In Sierra Leone” in London.

In Berlin, in a working group meeting on Ebola involving the German Federal Foreign Office, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and development (BMZ), healthcare partners and a battery of humanitarian organisations, Sierra Leone Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, Ambassador Jongopie S. Stevens discussed possible areas of immediate intervention by the German government.

He pointed out ways in which support from other institutions in Germany could reach countries worst affected by the Ebola Virus Disease in the sub-region.

Briefly before the discussion, Ambassador Stevens gave an overview of the Ebola situation in Sierra Leone. He made specific reference to the devastating effect it has created on not only the people of Sierra Leone but also the economic and social fabric of the entire nation.

Ambassador Stevens emphasised the need for extraordinary and collaborative efforts from all development partners across the globe to tackle the disease which has claimed the lives of over 3,000 people in the sub-region.

The country, he said, was busy rebuilding its infrastructure and revamping its economy when the killer disease struck. As a result, Sierra Leone is now faced with enormous challenges to contain the plague.

He further highlighted specific areas of intervention which include but not limited to, sophisticated treatment centres across the country, laboratory equipment, trained medical personnel and capacity building health practitioners. Logistical support like ambulances and information managers are also a key in fighting the Ebola Virus Disease in the country, Ambassador Stevens added.

Expressing concern over the situation in Sierra Leone and Liberia respectively, Head of Division for West and Central Africa at the German Federal Foreign Office, Mr. Dietrich Becker disclosed that over 2.000 Germans have registered as volunteers to travel to West Africa to help fight the outbreak. The volunteers will be sent to Sierra Leone and Liberia.

They include medical doctors and other technical personnel. He said they are presently undergoing screening before dispatching them to the two countries as soon as possible.

Mr. Becker also informed that the German government will help in constructing treatment centres in Sierra Leone and Liberia and rebuild the medical system of the two countries to prevent a new outbreak in the future.

Meanwhile, representatives from healthcare partners and other organisations across Germany have also expressed willingness to make voluntary contributions like medical supplies and drugs through the Federal Foreign Ministry in Berlin.

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