GOVERNMENT OF SIERRA LEONE
PRESS RELEASE
FOLLOWING A PROTEST STAGED BY MEMBERS OF THE SIERRA LEONE ASSOCIATION OF EBOLA SURVIVORS (S.L.A.E.S) ON MONDAY 4TH APRIL 2016, A MEETING WAS HELD AT STATE HOUSE BETWEEN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ASSOCIATION AND THE OFFICIALS OF THE MINISTRIES OF HEALTH AND SANITATION (MoHS) AND SOCIAL WELFARE, GENDER AND CHILDREN’S AFFAIRS (M.S.W.G.C.A). DURING THE MEETING, THE LEADERSHIP OF S.L.A.E.S REGISTERED A NUMBER OF GRIEVANCES INCLUDING THE NON-PAYMENT OF THEIR LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT BY THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL WELFARE, GENDER AND CHILDREN’S AFFAIRS, AND THE DIFFICULTIES THEIR MEMBERS CONTINUE TO FACE IN ACCESSING HEALTHCARE, PARTICULARLY IN RELATION TO THE TREATMENT OF POST-EBOLA HEALTH COMPLICATIONS.
IN CLARIFYING THE ISSUES RAISED BY THE LEADERSHIP OF S.L.A.E.S, OFFICIALS OF M.S.W.G.C.A NOTED THAT THE DELAY IN THE PAYMENT OF THE LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT WAS DUE TO THE NEED FOR A THOROUGH VERIFICATION OF THE LIST OF BENEFICIARIES AND ESTABLISHING THE MODALITIES FOR EFFECTING PAYMENTS. THE MINISTRY INFORMED THE LEADERSHIP OF S.L.A.E.S OF THE AVAILABILITY OF THE FUNDS, AND ITS WILLINGNESS TO PAY THE BENEFICIARIES IMMEDIATELY.
ON THE PROVISION OF HEALTHCARE, THE MEETING AGREED THAT ALL HEALTH FACILITIES SHOULD PROVIDE FREE HEALTHCARE FOR ALL EBOLA SURVIVORS, AS WELL AS ALL VULNERABLE CATEGORIES COVERED BY THE FREE HEALTH CARE INITIATIVE. OFFICIALS OF THE MoHS NOTED THAT THE MINISTRY HAD DIRECTED ALL DISTRICT MEDICAL OFFICERS TO ENSURE THAT THEY PROVIDE FREE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL EBOLA SURVIVORS, INCLUDING SPECIALIZED EYE CARE. IN ADDITION, THE MINISTRY HAS REVISED ITS ESSENTIAL DRUGS LIST, TO INCLUDE THOSE USED TO TREAT UNIQUE POST-EBOLA COMPLICATIONS, FOR WHICH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED. S.L.A.E.S WAS ALSO ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ALL HEALTHCARE WORKERS WHO DEPRIVE ITS MEMBERS OF FREE HEALTHCARE, SO THAT STRINGENT DISCIPLINARY MEASURES CAN BE TAKEN AGAINST THEM. TO THAT END, THE MoHS WILL ISSUE A STRONG WARNING TO ALL HEALTH FACILITIES CONCERNING FAILURE TO RESPOND TO THE POST-EBOLA HEALTH NEEDS OF SURVIVORS.
THE MEETING AGREED THAT THE LEADERSHIP OF S.L.A.E.S SHOULD INFORM THEIR MEMBERSHIP OF THE AVAILABILITY OF THE FUNDS AND THE WILLINGNESS OF THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY BENEFICIARIES, AS WELL AS TO CONSULT THEM ON THE PAYMENT METHOD. ONCE THE CONSULTATION IS DONE, THE LEADERSHIP OF S.L.A.E.S WILL INFORM M.S.W.G.C.A, WHICH WILL THEN EFFECT ONE-OFF PAYMENTS.
IT WAS ALSO AGREED THAT THE SIERRA LEONE POLICE WILL BE REQUESTED TO PROVIDE PROTECTION TO MEMBERS OF S.L.A.E.S AGAINST ANY STIGMATIZATION FROM SECTIONS OF THE PUBLIC BECAUSE OF THEIR MEDICAL STATUS.
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4TH APRIL, 2016
STATE HOUSE
FREETOWN
