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Sierra Leonean-born Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Dr Kandeh Yumkella has secured US$ 500,000 towards the fight against the Ebola outbreak in his country.

A press release from the Vienna-based OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) said the organisation approved "an emergency assistance grant of US$500,000 to support the activities of the World Health Organization (WHO) in stopping the spread of the deadly Ebola virus".

The streets of Freetown and other cities across Sierra Leone were completely deserted on Monday in accordance with a call by President Ernest Bai Koroma for all to stay at home and reflect on the havoc wreaked by the Ebola outbreak on the country, and pray for it to be stemmed.

In his address to the nation on 30 July announcing emergency measures to contain the outbreak, the president declared 4 August "a National Stay at Home Day for Family Reflection, Education and Prayers on the Ebola outbreak".

The Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health has banned the issuance of Haj and Umrah visas to Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia because of concerns over the spread of Ebola in the countries.

A Saudi health ministry spokesman, Dr. Khaled Marghalani told the Jeddah-based International Islamic News Agency that his ministry constantly coordinates with the ministries of hajj and foreign affairs to take all necessary measures at borders and airports.

By Mohamed Massaquoi

The United Council of Imams in the Pujehun district, has suspended their district chief imam, Alhaji Sulaiman Rogers on allegations of “misappropriation of funds and lack of transparency”.

Chiefdom Chief Imam of Kpanga Karbondeh, who doubles as the district public relations officer, Alhaji Gasimu Sheriff told Politico that the move was as a result of a unanimous decision.

The authorities at the Freetown International Airport at Lungi have responded to the Ebola outbreak in a stunningly impressive and reassuring manner.

This comes as the International Air Transport Association clears Sierra Leone as a country fit to travel to and from. (see right box).

The authorities have installed a non-body contact flash thermometer, which reads the body temperature of all passengers passing through the airport.

President Ernest Bai Koroma will today travel to Conakry to meet with his Liberian and Guinean counterparts as the three countries struggle to curb the deadly Ebola virus.

The three will be joined by the Director-General of the UN World Health Organisation, Margaret Chan who will launch a new joint US$ 100 million response plan as part of an intensified international, regional and national campaign to bring the outbreak under control.

Sierra Leoneans working for the United Nations in nine countries have raised among themselves around US$ 41,000 towards efforts to fight off Ebola in their home country.

The staff include civilian, military and warders or prison officers.
After deliberations, the staff who work in Liberia, Sudan, South Sudan, DR Congo,  Somalia, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Kenya and United States, decided to send the money through UNICEF after the children's agency had told them about the items most needed for the intervention.

(C) Politico 01/08/14