By Septimus Senessie in Kono
The family of Adamu Eze, now in police custody for his alleged role in the 21 November Ebola riot that claimed two lives in Kono district, has been released after 21 days under quarantine.
The twenty man family of number 28 Post Office Road in Koidu town was quarantined after medics at the government hospital said they had kept the 95-year old sick mother of Mr Eze. According to medical authorities in the township the woman, who later died after being treated and cared for at home by some family members and a local chemist, was in fact Ebola positive.
Adamu had protested and stopped the district management team supported by local security forces from taking his sick mother into the isolation and treatment centres. That resistance allegedly led to the riot that turned violent, cost the lives of people and left many others injured.
While releasing the family, a third year medical student providing assistance to the Disease Surveillance Office at the government hospital in Koidu, Hassan Aruna, told the family that “all of you we have quarantined for 21 days show no signs of Ebola and therefore you can go and continue your normal lives as usual.” He thanked them for obeying the law during the 21-day seizure of their movements and also advised them to keep to the preventive methods.
The elated family jumped and threw their hands into the air chanting “we are free from Ebola. We are free from bad”. The scene attracted dozens of people who joined in to celebrate with them.
Wife of Adamu, Finda Ezeh, amidst tears thanked God for taking them through “the turbulent times” under quarantine. She told Politico that they had prayed against showing any signs similar to those of Ebola. She said their release without any proof of sickness should let the public judge the credibility of the Ebola diagnosis of her late mother-in-law, who medics said “died of level three of Ebola.”
© Politico 27/11/14
