By Mohamed T Massaquoi
On the latest leg of his provincial tour to strengthen the fight against Ebola, President Ernest Bai Koroma has praised the people of the southern district of Pujehun for "your relentless efforts in the fight to eradicate the Ebola Virus" and encouraged the people to continue in the same rhythm.
Koroma acknowledged the work of the political leadership of Pujehun district and encouraged other districts to follow their example, noting that "for the past three weeks there has been no confirmed Ebola case from Pujehun and if this continues you stand a better chance to win a national award along with Bonthe district."
President Koroma highlighted the decision by the leaders of the district to ban congregational prayers for a month when the first cases of Ebola appeared in the district, describing the action as courageous because "an extraordinary challenge needs extraordinary measures."
He promised to return to Pujehun "if another twenty-one days pass without a confirmed case of Ebola" and reserved special praise for a group called Women of Wanjama, the young people in the district and the security forces. He urged the people to keep politics out of the Ebola fight.
The chairman of the district council, Sadiq Silla assured President Koroma that there would be no new case of Ebola in the district for as long as the district stakeholders and the District Health Management Team continued to work with his leadership, and commended the efforts of traditional rulers for the enforcement of the Ebola bye-laws, the security forces, women, youths, the DHMT and the taskforce including the MPs and NGOs operating in and out of the district.
The chairman also noted the support of the agricultural company, Socfin for providing stipends to people guarding Ebola checkpoints in the district.
Sillah pleaded with the president to intervene with mobile phone company, Airtel to provide power to the local community radio station - Radio Wanjei and to help improve its coverage area.
The district medical officer Doctor David Bome said the district had so far recorded 28 cases and announced that he would be embarking on a tour of the entire area together with members of the taskforce from 18th – 23rd November to curb Ebola.
He called for more ambulances to be deployed in the district.
© Politico 19/11/14
