By Mabinty M. Kamara
The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRC-SL) has raised grave concerns over the situation in homes and other facilities under quarantine for the Coronavirus disease.
Among many issues highlighted in its latest report is that most homes under quarantine either don’t get their food on time, the food is mostly inadequate or they don’t get food at all.
"Persons in quarantined homes informed HRCSL that the quantity and quality of food supplied was insufficient and untimely. They also complained about inadequate drinking water," the Commission said in a press statement issued on Friday, May 22.
The commission put together the findings after interviews and visits it conducted as part of its monitoring of quarantined homes and facilities across the country.
More than 3,000 people have been under quarantine since Sierra Leone recorded its first case in late March, according to figures from the National Covid-19 Response Team.
Reports indicate that conditions in most of those facilities have been bad. In recent months, there have been several cases of people escaping from quarantine facilities partly due to these unfavorable conditions.
The Human Rights Commission, in its report, also highlighted the poor sanitary and hygiene conditions in most of the facilities it monitored.
The problem, it notes, is even more serious in the provinces where officials have to use public facilities like schools to quarantine people.
“HRCSL observed poor toilet facilities and was informed by persons in quarantine homes of insufficient supplies of toiletries and inadequate water supply for bathing and general cleaning of the facilities,” the statement reads.
Among other concerns raised by the rights watchdog is the seeming absence of psychosocial support for people in quarantine and those in treatment centers.
Logistics for some District Emergency Operations Centers have also been delayed, consequently affecting the response efforts in most of these districts, the Commission further notes.
"Communities visited informed HRCSL that they are yet to receive their disbursement of funds and logistics from the EOC. To a large extent this posed a challenge in their operations," HRCL said.
The report also highlighted the longstanding security challenge facing the country. And, as part of its recommendations, HRCSL urges state actors to work together while calling on the youths to channel their energy to fighting the Corona virus.
Copyright © 2020 Politico Online
