By Lamin Idriss Conteh (Cazorla)
The World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Humanitarian Response Depo (UNHRD) and the Government of South Korea have handed over laboratory-testing materials to the Government of Sierra Leone. The items were presented to officials of the Ministry of Health in Freetown last Friday.
WHO donated 600 reactions Multiplex PCR kits (for COVID-19 and Influenza testing), UNHRD contributed 7200 specimen collection kits (swab and Universal Transport Medium) and the Government of South Korea donated 12,000 COVID-19 PCR extraction kits and 14,000 COVID-19 PCR testing kits.
WHO Country Representative, Dr Steven Shongwe, presented the materials on behalf of the organisations to the Minister of Health and Sanitation, Professor Alpha Tejan Wurie, at the WHO head office in Freetown.
Speaking to reporters, Shongwe revealed that there are over 60 million cases of COVID-19 globally and 1.4 million deaths, with Africa accounting for 1.5 million of infected cases and a death toll of 23,000. Sierra Leone, as of the 26th November, 2020, had 2, 409 confirmed COVID-19 cases, and 74 deaths. The WHO official made reference to the surveillance data which shows a very low positivity rate of 0.4%.
He described the sustained decline in number of cases of COVID and related deaths as really commendable and congratulated the country for being listed by the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in the U.S as one of only four African countries where travelling and health risks due to the pandemic is low. The other countries are Benin, Ivory Coast and Rwanda.
The WHO country chief thanked the Minister of Health, the Government and the people of Sierra Leone for their efforts in tackling the pandemic. He also urged the people of Sierra Leone to continue to adhere to the safety measures and suggested that the government enhances surveillance to detect any change in trends in case of resurgence, as well as ensure expanding of laboratory testing capacity. He assured the government of WHO’s support to the government in the fight against the deadly virus.
The Minister of Health and Sanitation, Prof. Wurie, thanked Shongwe for presenting the materials to them, and assured him that the Ministry of Health and Sanitation will continue to maintain the right measures in the fight against the pandemic.
“This is a festive time where large numbers of Sierra Leoneans are coming home from countries where the incident rates are much higher than that of Sierra Leone. We will make sure they are properly screened before they get to join their relatives,” the Minister said.
The Chief Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Rev. Canon Dr Thomas T. Samba, asserted their determination to counter and prevent a resurgence of the virus and encouraged the press to continue educating and sensitizing the general public on the essence of adhering to the rules and regulations being requested by WHO and other health partners.
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