“Ebola is a very stubborn enemy, we must not be complacent”
Exploring President Koroma’s Independence Message to the Nation
Sierra Leone on Monday 27th April, 2015 observed its 54th Independence with the Ebola being the Alpha and the Omega in President Koroma’s address to the nation. From the beginning to the end of his message, the Ebola tragedy and its destruction to humanity and the economy were clearly highlighted, calling on Sierra Leoneans not to relent, but to continue to fight on until no one is infected with Ebola in the country and sub region.
There are many things He could have talked about: for instance the successful story of the Free Health Care launched 27th April 2010, and the construction and completion of health facilities across the country, including economic growth, investment, agriculture and youth empowerment but it would have been an irony of the reality of what the country is going through. We cannot talk about development in a positive light now when the enemy of development is still around with its missiles without fighting back.
We lost our lantern parade and masquerade culture, visiting the beautiful beaches, friends and football matches with the National Dance Troupe giving the traditional rhythm and acrobatic punches in high spirit. Monday 27th April 2015 we could not celebrate as usual because the fight against Ebola is still on. This is why I like the words of our President: “It takes only a single individual or family or community to reverse all the gains we have made, and only a single individual to prevent our country from being declared Ebola free”. ” Every body counts, everybody is responsible”, this is the message President Koroma wanted every Sierra Leonean, and every friend of Sierra Leone to follow.
Listening to SLBC/TV Tuesday April 28, 2015 Press Review, a reflection of Edward Marah Editor of Informant Newspaper, he opined, “When we agree as a nation to end the rebel war it happened victoriously” meaning, Edward was supporting the President’s stance of us being resilient people in the fight against Ebola, and I strongly believe that with the dedication of our Ebola response frontline workers, our doctors, nurses and other cadre of health workers, individual, family and community the war against Ebola would be a thing of the past.
Let us remember that our country was being hailed for its post conflict achievements and economic growth: The economy was moving forward, jobs being created, incomes on the rise, school attendance increase, pregnant women, lactating mothers and children were accessing health care in our hospitals more than ever before.
Though there were challenges, roads were constructed; teacher’s salary, lecturers, security officers and civil servants were motivated. Investment in agriculture, mining, infrastructure development and public works were encouragingly moving towards posterity despite the growing challenges.
While exploring the ocean depth of the Presidential speech from my little town of Mateboi my vessel galloped at the Moa Wharf where the President accompanied by the Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Abu Bakarr Fofanah, the Chief Executive Officer NERC, Rtd. Major Paolo Conteh, and other high profile personalities interacted with the residents, urging them not to relent in the fight to conquer the war, and end the Ebola crisis, noting that community ownership and participation is the weapon to defeat the Ebola virus disease. Moa Wharf is in the east end of Freetown, and has been recording recent cases, hence the reality of the start of President Koroma’s first 54th Independence journey after his broadcast message to the nation, April 27, 2015. His visit was a surprise and highly welcome by residents. But alas, Tuesday April 28, 2015, Moa Wharf recorded the only ONE CASE just after the visit of the President.
The comment by some people on the Presidential message not covering their expectation on issues they may want him to dilate on shows no commitment and support to the Ebola virus disease response. What else could the President had to say when in his opening statement he dilated on the gains in the mining, agriculture, infrastructure, investment in human resource development, accessibility of women, children, mothers and pregnant women in their large numbers to health facilities that the Ebola derailed the position of the country as a fast moving economy. The Ebola is enemy of progress and attacking the enemy back and front 24 hours -7 is nothing wrong. Until we end Ebola we should not remain complacent. This is not the time to talk about the success and challenges on sports, business, cultural activities, tourism, Protests and Demonstration when the enemy Ebola is still in our midst, continue to destabilize the gains we made before the outbreak. Not to talk about the death of potential citizens and our loved ones.
By Jonathan Abass Kamara
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