Important Press Release from the Government of Sierra Leone: Bonanza for health and non-health personnel

The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministries of Finance and Economic Development and Health and Sanitation, with the concurrence of the Ebola Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), hereby announces the approval of an amount of Le 82.1 Billion equivalent to US$18.2 million for the payment of weekly incentives to eligible health and non-health personnel to enhance the fight against the Ebola Virus Disease for an initial period of six months effective 1^st September 2014 to 28^th February 2015 as follows:

No	*Category of Staff*	*No. of Personnel*	*Amount Per Person (Le)*
1	Staff in Treatment Centres	1,500	500,000 per week
2	Burial Team	250	500,000 per week
3	Staff in Holding Centres	438	400,000 per week
4	Staff Laboratory	80	400,000 per week
5	Staff in affected Communities	8,000	200,000 per week
6	Contact Tracers	2,100	100,000 per week
7	Screening Personnel	240	100,000 per week

This programme is jointly funded by Government, the World Bank, the Global Fund and the United Nations Population Fund, with government contributing an amount of Le29.7 Billion

The public is hereby reminded that the funds being provided for incentives to Health workers is in addition to funds already provided by government to help fight the Ebola outbreak. This payment will be effected by the EOC through the Emergency Response Ebola Account held at the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank and the Bank of Sierra Leone respectively. Payments will be made to beneficiary staff by District Medical Officers in each region.

The District Medical Officers will assume full responsibility to account for the payments to personnel within their jurisdiction and submit returns to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development through the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, promptly to facilitate timely release of funds each week.

In this regard, a total amount of Le 3 Billion will be released on a weekly basis to District Medical Officers with immediate effect to pay incentives to eligible health workers beginning the week ending September 6, 2014.

Finally, plans are being finalized to pay a lump sum benefit to all Ebola Discharged patients and to all Health Personnel in the unfortunate occurrence of Death. Also, strong efforts are underway to provide appropriate personal protection gear to all frontline Health and Non-Health workers.

The continuing cooperation of the General Public is solicited to assist government efforts in the fight against the Ebola Virus Disease.

IMPORTANT NOTE

Ebola Emergency Account Details:

Account Number (Leones): 003001118285030109

Account Number (USD): 003001014138030145

The Ebola Emergency Account is audited by Chartered Accountants from the KPMG Accounting and Auditing Firm at the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC)

All Cash Donations are deposited at the Ebola Emergency Account managed by the EOC, and kind donations (Medicines, Equipment, Supplies, etc.) are held at the Government Medical logistics stores, Freetown, by the Ebola Logistics team, for processing, storage and equitable distribution as required throughout the country.