Another Batch of 54 Survivors Discharged at Hastings Treatment Centre

Freetown, Nov. 17, 014 (MOHS) – Fifty-Four (54) Survivors of the Ebola virus disease have been discharged on Saturday November 15, 2014 from the Hastings Ebola Treatment Centre.

A cross section of the survivors

Addressing survivors at Hastings Police Training School Keith Lewis hall, the Founder Sierra Leone Women’s Business Hub, Lawyer Finda Koroma described the event as another milestone in the history of the Hastings Ebola Treatment Centre.

Founder, Sierra Leone Women’s Business Hub, Lawyer Finda Koroma delivering her statement

She commended the health workers and other staff at the Centre for their hard work, and the contribution of the Deputy Health Minister II, Madam Madina Rahman for her monitoring and supervisory role in making the Hastings Ebola hospital a Centre of Excellence.

Lawyer Finda Koroma informed her audience that Ebola is a killer disease but can be prevented, and admonished the survivors to be ambassadors in their different areas and communities to preach the message about Ebola and the denial syndrome to dispel rumors and help build confidence in the people, that there is hope of survival in Ebola health facilities.

She reiterated her organization’s commitment to always support the survivors, adding that their partners would soon establish a Social Empowerment Funds for Survivors through the Mano River Union (MRU) to support women and children.

Lawyer Finda Koroma said the testimonies from the survivors would tell the story that early detection of Ebola saves life, and commended staff of the Hastings Treatment Centre for the remarkable work done at the centre.

She described the Ebola as an evil catalyst that has ravaged the economy of the country, its political and social fabrics in relation to economic growth, noting the closure of learning institutions, a reverse in trade, business, tourism and investment in all sectors.

Commenting on the current situation of the outbreak, Lawyer Finda Koroma said the spate at which the crisis is destroying human race and the trend of the country’s economy has poses a threat towards growth and development which makes the political leadership President Koroma a worried man.

Making a donation of personal hygiene items and toiletries to the survivors on behalf of her organization, Lawyer Koroma described the gesture as humanitarian, hoping that it would add value to the other donated items given them as a startup kits.

The Director, Medical Research Centre, Mr. Abdul Karim Jalloh described the work of the medical staff and the support staff of the Hastings Treatment Centre as laudable, especially that the workers are all Sierra Leoneans.

Director, Medical Research Centre, Mr. Abdul Karim Jalloh making his remarks

He said their works have made history and should be documented for posterity.

Mr. Jalloh said, he is proud of the success story and called for the collective efforts of every Sierra Leonean to join the government and partners in its stride to contain the disease in the country. Denial, Mr. Jalloh said if continues would frustrate the efforts of the government and destroy all that it takes for the economic growth of the country.

He reiterated his organization’s commitment to the fight against Ebola and the continued collaboration with ‘Direct Relief’, an organization that has contributed immensely in complementing government efforts in the fight to contain the Ebola virus disease

The Centre Coordinator and Manager of the National Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme, Dr. Santigie Sesay said since the inception of the Centre in September 19, 2014 they have admitted 479 with a cumulative discharge of 276 and 123 cumulative deaths. Most of the deaths, Dr. Sesay said was due to late arrival, adding that some died on arrival.

Centre Coordinator, Dr. Santigie Sesay making his statement

He admonished the male survivors to abstain from sexual activity for 90 days, and mothers not to breast feed so that they would maintain their healthy physical status.

Dr. Sesay described what they went through as battle of hope and despair, and encouraged them to go out and break the transmission by being a goodwill ambassador.