By Mohamed T Massaquoi
Local Government Minister Diana Konomanie last week commended the people of Pujehun after the district emerged the first in the country to record zero new Ebola infection in 42 days. But she also warned against complacency.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) regulations, a country can only be declared free of an Ebola outbreak after 42 days without a new case. With 31 confirmed cases, Pujehun ranks 13 among the 14 districts in the country. It recorded its last case on November 26.
Pujehun is just above Bonthe which has the least number of cases at 5.
As expected, news of the achievement in Pujehun was greeted with delight, but in the midst of the celebration there are concerns about likelihood of ensuring it doesn't fall back like Kabala did after months of efforts to keep the virus at bay.
"I strongly advise that the district must not take complacency of their success story to down-play their efforts in the whole fight," Minister Konomanie said at a meeting in the district on Friday 9 January.
Local district authorities attributed the success to high political commitment. The minister urged them to exercise the same leadership quality to ensure they guard against complacency.
She sought to address the thorny issue of when and who declares a country Ebola-free.
"Once the entire country and the Africa region has not been declared Ebola free, we still have a potential threat of the virus, and once it happens again it will be difficult to contain," she said.
According to the Local Government Minister, Pujehun had always been ahead of the central government in taking stringent measures in the fight to eradicate Ebola. She disclosed that because of this the government would consider the district`s approach as a case study for implementation elsewhere in the country.
Minister Konomanie also suggested that some members of the Pujenhun District Ebola Task Force be deployed to other districts to help out.
She observed that out of 58 crossing points along the borders of the Mano River Union region, 55 are illegal. She laid the fault on the other side of border in Liberia.
The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, she said, would soon be equipped to properly man the borders to address the issue of possible cross-border infections.
And as a show of appreciation for the achievement of the people of Pujehun, Minister Konomanie promised to lobby President Ernest Bai Koroma for more development projects in the district.
Ali Bao, coordinator, Pujenhun District Ebola Response Centre, attributed the success story to unity. He said they followed strictly recommendations of the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC), among which are the strict adherence to safe burial.
There was also a very high corporation and accountability from both international and local NGOs, he added, referring to the performance of the district political leadership as remarkable. He especially singled out the District Medical Officer Doctor David Bome whom he described as a hero.
Bao then assured that Pujehun will maintain a zero-infection status
until the virus is eradicated in the entire country.
Pujehun District Council Chairman, Sadiq Silla, attributed 70% of the success to high level of commitment from the security forces and pleaded with the government to equip them. He spoke about how they had to overcome challenges including insightful statements from some stakeholders bent on undermining the district bye laws.
The District Council Chairman also paid special tribute to religious leaders for complying to a one-month ban on congregational prayers.
© Politico 13/01/15
