By Mustapha Kamara
Women Rise Up Against Ebola, a local nongovernmental organisation, has urged government to allow women a 30% inclusion in the fight to end Ebola, the haemorrhagic fever that has claimed over 1,500 lives in the country.
Founder, Elizabeth Mans, said at the official launch of the group in Freetown that “women have a great role to play if the country is to break the chain of transmission and stop the spread of the disease”.
She observed that women had been the hardest hit by the Ebola disease since its onset in May, adding that it was time for the government of Sierra Leone involved more women to help in eradicating Ebola from the country and the sub region.
Mans said the purpose of their initiative was to ensure that more women got involved in the fight to save the country from the Ebola menace.
Deputy health minister, Madinatu Rahman congratulated the group for their initiative, saying the decision to support the government and its partners was a wise one.
She said most of the people affected by the disease were women aged between 15 and 35 years, noting that the disease had also led to a rise in teenage pregnancy and other healthcare problems affecting women.
She said it would be relevant for more women to be part of the coordination and response teams in all communities.
Delivering her keynote address, Director General of Sierra Leone Road Transport Authority, Dr. Sarah Bendu also applauded the move by the women and described it as “appropriate”. He said the disease had primarily affected more women in diverse ways.
“Amidst the dreadful situation that the country is faced with, women have a responsibility to protect their families, neighbours and communities” she said, and encouraged all Sierra Leoneans to serve as ambassadors for other women in the country.
“Tell commercial sex workers about the dangers, signs and symptoms of the Ebola virus and how they can protect and prevent themselves from contracting the disease” Dr Bendu said.
© Politico 02/12/14
