The UN world health organization says four more patients have been discharged from the Ebola treatment centres in the eastern district town of Kenema, bringing the number of discharged patients to 23.
The Ebola virus, which causes severe haemorrhaging and can kill up to 90 per cent of those infected, is spread by direct contact with the blood and body fluids of infected animals or people.
The first to be discharged from the Ebola treatment centre was Victoria Yillia, a 19 year old from Koindu in the Kailahun district. “I felt like I am in heaven when I was discharged”, she said. She had moved on to live in nearby Kenema district with her husband and mother in law.
Other patients had been discharged and were recuperating in their homes. A village chief from one of the worst affected villages in the Jawie chiefdom in Kailahun district and who was discharged together with his wife, was involved in giving testimony to community members in the house of the paramount chief.
The discharge package included money for transportation to their communities, clothing and food items.
This is the first time the outbreak has occurred in the country, leading to denial and panic. There were myths and misconceptions around the treatment and control of the Ebola Virus Disease, especially in the Kailahun, the epicentre, and neighboring districts bordering Liberia and Guinea.
“These misconceptions must be corrected and people from the affected communities need to accept that Ebola is the cause of the unusual morbidity and mortality”, a UN statement said.
The UN family comprising WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, the French charity, MSF, Red Cross and other partners continued to support the communication of key messages through radio discussions, dissemination of jingles, posters and fact sheets.
It said a better understanding of the disease and involvement of members of the community in the prevention and control of the outbreak is hoped to improve early case reporting and thus increase the number of people discharged from treatment centres.
Meanwhile, at a meeting of cabinet ministers held on Wednesday 2July 2014, the government has agreed that ministers should donate 50% of their salaries for the month of July 2014 to the fund for the fight against the Ebola virus. It was also decided that 50% of the salaries of the President and the Vice President should be deducted for the same period and for the same purpose while 25% of the salaries of deputy ministers should be deducted accordingly.
The government press release also served as a notice informing the Accountant-General of the voluntary decision, and to take necessary action.
(C) Politico 02/07/14
