By Septimus Senessie in Kono
Some Ebola suspected cases at the holding centre of the Koidu government hospital in Kono say they are not being fed properly and that water and medication are in short supply.
“We are being held here like condemned criminals,” some of the suspected cases told Politico.
One of them, who was brought in from Small Sefadu claimed they had not received medication and drinking water but were being fed twice daily.
“They don’t give us food on time. They serve us small rounded bread and tea in a small disposable cup by 9am. We don’t get to eat again till 4pm,” she said an accused the authorities of being “inhuman and heartlessness”.
She said they should be treated like any other sick people in a hospital, especially while they await results of their blood sample tests that were taken to Kenema for diagnosis. Kamara said that most deaths being associated with Ebola at those holding centres were not credible, claiming that “some of them are caused by the maltreatment and discriminations people are subjected to by health workers in charge of the holding centres”.
Another suspected case, Aiah Bockarie, also alleged that they were being held without medication, water and adequate food supply. He said they had to call in a reporter for Culture Radio who was based in Kono to plead with people to buy them water to drink. The reporter, Mohamed Sidibay, confirmed the claim to Politico.
Bockarie also alleged that they had also pleaded with health workers to treat them like humans because they were not yet proven to be Ebola positive.
When contacted the District Medical Superintendent, Casho Marsh, denied the allegations, saying that they had fed the patients three times daily. He however agreed that they were very constrained in terms ofthe availability of disposable cups, spoons and plates to serve the patients at the holding centre.
“I had to use my personal money to provide plates, spoons and cups for them. The ministry of health did not make them available to us” he said.
Meanwhile, the Disease Surveillance Officer at the Koidu government hospital, Sahr Moiba, said they had recorded fifteen positive Ebola cases with 7 deaths so far. He said they had quarantined some people suspected to have come in contact with Ebola patients.
(C) Politico 23/09/14
