By Kemo Cham
The head of the National Ebola Response Center (NERC), Alfred Palo Conteh, has issued a stern warning against violations of the anti-Ebola regulations saying the time of talking was over.
The retired army major and former Defence minister was reacting to reports of violations of the Standard Burial Policy (SBP) implemented in the course of the Ebola epidemic which he stressed will remain in force long after Sierra Leone was declared free of the epidemic by the World Health Organisation.
In line with the policy, designated burial teams of trained staff bury anyone who dies anywhere in the country, regardless of their status. And every dead is tested for the Ebola virus.
The policy has been modified in the past as the severity of the epidemic lessened. For instance in the Western Area family members are now allowed to chose the choice of cemetery if their dead loved ones turn out Ebola negative. Also people are allowed to perform religious rites before burial, although from a safe distance.
Nonetheless there is still public opposition to the existence of the policy, as was demonstrated by a recent incident in Waterloo where some youths reportedly attacked a burial team on duty.
“Even where these fine Sierra Leoneans are doing this dangerous job to save our nation, there are people who are still engaged in act that will continue to put the lives of the six million Sierra Leoneans at risk,” the NERC CEO said Wednesday at his weekly press briefing.
According to officials, investigations are ongoing over the incident that occurred exactly in Tombo, outside Waterloo. The team of 10 members from the Red Cross in Waterloo went to collect a corpse in Tombo when angry youths descended upon them. Eight members of the team sustained injuries, according to the Red Cross.
Transmission of the Ebola virus is said to be more common through contact with the dead. At some point of the epidemic in Sierra Leone this was considered a major route of transmission, hence the SBP, which also prohibits people from touching or washing the dead.
The week before last, according to the NERC, five people were apprehended in the Western Area for washing a dead body. They were remanded at the Sierra Leone Correctional Center on Pademba Road and subsequently fined Le 500, 000 each on their second court appearance.
The NERC boss hopes that court action served as a warning.
“I hope this court action will serve as a warning to all others, who think they can make it a regular habit to deliberately violate policies that will end this outbreak,” he told journalists.
(C) Politico Online 12/10/15
