By Mohamed T. Massaquoi.
The Chairman of the local civil society group in Pujehun, Ibrahim Swaray has accused executives of the Pujehun District Descendants' Association (PDDA) of not being active in the fight against the Ebola disease.
Speaking in an Ebola sensitisation programme on the local Radio Wanjei, he referred to recent moves by a similar organisation in Moyamba district which he said should be emulated.
The civil society chairman pleaded with PDDA executives "to join the fight to save the lives of our people".
But the Chairman of PDDA, businessman Patrick Ansu Kaikai told Politico that since the outbreak in the district, "we have been talking among themselves to decide on how to stop the spread of the virus".
Kaikai said his organisation had sent a proposal to the government, which he believed was still being considered by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. He said the proposal covered a "rapid and effective sensitisation" effort that could "turn the tide against Ebola in Pujehun district, which has so far recorded very few cases".
The PDDA chairman said they were trying to raise funds among themselves to contribute to the campaign. But, he went on, ignorance and denial among the people were "major contributing factors to the spread of the Ebola". He said the national executive was "networking with both the district and the chiefdom executives".
Kaikai called on university students from Pujehun to join PDDA in mounting the awareness-raising programmes, adding "we have been very much instrumental in this campaign and when we get our own logistical support we will deploy it there directly".
(C) Politico 14/08/14
