Siraju Bah MIC News:
The Minister of Health and Sanitation Madam Miatta Kargbo has announced that no confirmed case of the deadly Ebola virus has been reported by the surveillance team of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation adding that her Ministry has instituted an emergency response plan as a precautionary measure to effectively address any incidence of Ebola virus in the country. He made this announcement on the 27th March, 2014 at the weekly press briefing of the Ministry of Information and Communications at the Ministry’s conference hall at Youyi Building in Freetown.
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH HON. MIATTA KARGBO
She reiterated that the Ministry is on high alert to ensuring that the virus is contained if any incidence is confirmed in the country as they have set up a national task force that include officials of the Ministry, World Health Organization WHO, Office of National Security ONS, Health Development Partners and Civil Society Organizations to ensure effective coordinated response in case the virus spills over.
The Minister said that the Government is serious about the threat of Ebola and is working relentlessly on a number of issues to ensuring that the virus does not spill over from Guinea where it has been confirmed saying that the Ministry, WHO and ONS are working with their Guinean counterparts to concertedly strengthen efforts to avert the spread of the disease.
Madam Kargbo also informed the press that the Ministry has mounted a robust community sensitization campaign about the need to be cautious about the contagious disease and to be wary about the type of meat they eat, especially the bat meat which is the main carrier of the virus.
DEPUTY INFORMATION MINISTER THEO NICOL
The Deputy Minister of Information and Communication, Mr. Theo Nicol urged the press to help sensitize the public about the need to take precautionary measures in order not to get infected by the virus and to also help in disseminating the right information to avoid rumour mongers passing on the wrong information that will cause panic.
DR. BRIMA KARGBO
The Chief Medical Officer Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Brima kargbo reiterated that no incidence of the disease has been confirmed by their surveillance team noting that all the suspected cases of Ebola has been tested negative and assured that a competent surveillance team has its ears on the ground and is prepared to address any reported case.
He said that Ebola is a highly infectious disease with no specific cure but whose preventive measures include, to promptly report any suspected case to the nearest health facilities.
He admonished his audience not to eat animals found dead, especially monkeys, Chimpanzees and bats adding that people who have died of Ebola should be buried safely.
DR. UMARU JAMBAI
The Director of Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Umaru Jambai dismissed rumours about Ebola cases in Kambia, Kono and other places in the country as untrue confirming that all suspected case has been tested negative.
He observed that the best thing to do in a time of emergency is to share the right information so that the issue will be addressed adequately.
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