By Nasratu Kargbo
The Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Public Health and Head of Surveillance Pillar Dr. Sattie Kenneh, National COVID-19 Emergency Response Centre (NaCOVERC) has on 20th August 2021 announced the end of the third wave of the pandemic, noting that the country has been recording single digits and occasionally zero cases in recent times.
Kanneh however warned Sierra Leoneans about the presence of the fourth wave of COVID in the world and advised Sierra Leoneans to practice the precautionary measures in order for the country not to experience the fourth wave.
He said Sierra Leone was one of the countries that did not experience COVID early and that whilst others were on their second or third wave, the country was at its first. Kanneh added that since other countries still battle with the virus, it positions Sierra Leone at a risk. Due to this, the team emphatically stated that they will maintain all surveillance and control measures.
“The focus presently is to minimize the number of cases, prevent the country from a fourth wave and to make sure diseases like Margburg, Ebola etc. stay beyond Sierra Leone. For that reason the surveillance pillar sets to heighten its surveillance system especially at the borders, both official and unofficial border points,” he said.
According to the Surveillance Head, whilst securing the country’s system against COVID, they will keep an eye on the Sub region and beyond for other diseases. The doctor stated that with the presence of Ebola in Ivory Coast, Margburg in Guinea, together with COVID, the surveillance pillar will take an integrated approach for all. The team continues to monitor the cases, update the cases definition, which according to Kenneh is what they use to identify cases, stating that they do so early and isolate early.
“we do not only focus on health alert, we also now focus on death alert,” he said, explaining that when they receive death alert, they would have to investigate to see whether they match the case definition of COVID, Ebola and Margburg. This according to him is a continuous process.
He therefore encouraged all to take the vaccine for protection.
Speaking on experiences and lessons learnt, the Case Management Lead Colonel Dr. Stephen Sevalie said during the third wave, they have learnt a lot, amongst them is that a country can run out of oxygen, beds, laboratory supplies, medicines etc. due to surge in cases.
The Management Lead said they are presently conducting trainings on the new treatment guidelines and based on the experiences they have had from the previous waves.
He added that since the country is relaxing most of the restrictions, Sierra Leoneans should practice precautionary measures because “as the risk is better controlled, there might be more relaxation on restrictions, but while we do that, it also poses threat and that threat might easily take us to another wave” said Sevalie
He also spoke on vaccination, stating that 99.99% of those dying of COVID now are does that are not vaccinated. He noted that no vaccinated person has died, and further explained how he witnessed an aged person with kidney and diabetes survive COVID because the person was vaccinated. He allayed the fears of women who believe the rumor of infertility caused by the vaccine, and explains that people with other diseases need to take the vaccine for protection.
Meanwhile the Director of Vaccination (NaCOVERC) Dr. Tom Sesay has disclosed that a ten day nationwide vaccination surge will start today 23rd August 2021 and is to target three hundred and sixty thousand people.
Speaking at the weekly government press briefing in Freetown, Dr.Sesay said at some point, NaCOVERC ran out of vaccines but on August 8, 2021 the country received ninety six thousand doses of AstraZeneca and two hundred thousand doses of Sinophram vaccines. The country has a total stock of four hundred and forty-six thousand vaccines.
He revealed that the AstraZeneca vaccine will expire by the end of next month reason for which he said NaCOVERC together with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation decided to intensify vaccination across the country.
He added that the number of vaccination teams will be increased across the country, with each team targeting sixty people per day.
For the teams to be put in place, 36 will cover Bo, 26 Bonthe , Falaba 22, Kenema 46, Karene 26, Moyamba 32, Pujehun 30, Bombali 36, Portloko 42, Kono 38, Kailahun 22, Kambia 30 amongst others. According to the director the teams will be mobile moving from one community to the other so as to reach the people.
The director explained that NaCOVERC have “cumulatively vaccinated one hundred and sixty four thousand, two hundred and eighty one persons, with forty thousand yet to receive their second dose.” The director said the gap is great and that they will make sure that all individuals that have received the first dose take the second dose, warning that one is only assured of full protection after receiving both doses. He encouraged all those who have taken the first dose to take the second.
According to Dr.Sesay 1.98% of the country’s population has received the first dose of the COVID vaccine, whilst 3.84% of those who are over 18 have taken the first dose. 66.67% male have taken the vaccine as against the 33% female. 48.7% of health workers are vaccinated, and forty thousand have received the second dose.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online
