“Turning a Big Ship is not Just Like turning around a Canoe”

The Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone in May 25, 2014 caused a big set back to the once described fast growing economy in West Africa. Sierra Leone, a country endowed with mineral and agricultural resources, once destroyed by the almost 11 years senseless RUF Revolution, now faces another threat from a vicious enemy, the “Ebola Virus Disease.”

The leadership of this nation during his first term in office made political, social and economic gains that ranked Sierra Leone among the fastest growing Economy. In the event of measuring his post first term political leadership, the Ebola war broke out and claimed the lives of nation builders including doctors, nurses, other medical staff, and professionals in other disciplines.

Clergymen of some Churches and Mosques have been very helpful in the fight to influence their congregation and communities to accept that the disease is real; it kills, and can destroy a whole nation. But the denial syndrome continues even at the height of President Koroma’s community awareness and ownership social mobilization campaign across the country.

The situation has been very crucial with traditional and culture beliefs interfering with the strides the government and partners are making. Hoping Operation Western Area Surge will make a difference.

Clergies of the Christian and Islamic faith, whom I engaged to give their opinion about the President’s vision on Operation Western Area Surge, described the situation as complex. When asked why and how complex? They remarked “Turning around a ship is not as easy as turning around a canoe”. Meaning according to them, some of us Sierra Leoneans are very stubborn and lawless and hard to accept reality, hence not too easy to face the fact, and accept reality. As such turning them around like the canoe is what Operation Western Area Surge came to do for the reduction of Ebola cases towards the ultimate goal of winning the battle.

These are the words of Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs, Mustapha Bai Atila at the Magbente Ebola Treatment Unit Survivors Discharged Ceremony: “Di koax-koax don done; E do so way we koax pipul”.

Perhaps the average citizen is aware of the definite and positive move of the President as we see a decline in the rate of infection. The Clergy men in line with the President’s clarion call have expressed optimism that together we will beat Ebola and say Alleluia! In January 2015, I strongly believe also that the big ship will be turned around to get Sierra Leone Ebola free.

By Jonathan Abass Kamara

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