The First Lady Sia Nyama Koroma has donated food items to the Hastings Ebola treatment centre.
The items include 100 50 kg bags of rice, 100 bags of onions, 100 gallons of cooking oil, 50 bags of corn soya blend (corn flour), 100 bags of cooking salt, 10 cartoons of jumbo magi, 500 bundles of drinking water and isolation unit filter bag.
MRS SIA KOROMA ( LEFT ) AND MRS. KHADIJA SAM-SUMANA, WIFE OF VICE-PRESIDENT SAM SUMANA
The one month old all Sierra Leonean run treatment centre has discharged 79 survivors out of 109 admissions.
The First Lady’s visit goes beyond to make a donation but also to associate herself with those that have fallen ill.
Madam Sia Nyama Koroma had previously made similar donations to quarantined districts of Kenema, Kailahun, Bombali, Port Loko and in the Western Area.
According to the Medical coordinator for the treatment centre Dr. Santigie Sesay, no healthcare worker at the facility has being infected with the Ebola virus since operations started four weeks ago.
Most of the nurses here are volunteers from the neighborhood. Doctor Sesay asked the First Lady to advocate on behalf of the nurses for their inclusion into the civil service.
The treatment center is the brain child of the inspector general of police Francis Alieu Munu . His initial idea for the facility to be used as a holding centre has now made way for a facelift to the road leading to the facility and possibly a renovated Police training school complete with a healthcare centre. He said that patients at this facility are fed five times daily which means that there is a continuous need for nutrition.
China has been a strong ally in the fight against Ebola as their contributions have been immense.
These items were purchased with an eighty million Leones donation courtesy of the wife of the Chinese Ambassador Madam Mao Xuehong.
Madam Xuehong and the Chinese Embassy has always supported the First Lady’s efforts. she expressed hope that the food items will help restore confidence in sick people that they can win the war against Ebola.
Wife of the Vice President Khadiya Sam Sumana , the wife of the attorney general and transport minister, the Deputy APC women’s Leader and other distinguished personalities were also present at the handing over ceremony.
The First Lady Sia Nyama Koroma told nurses and others present that the devastating effects of the virus is affecting every facet the country.
she said that sierra Leone is in need of every support that will help prevent the virus from further spread, treatment for those that are already infected, or help with the longer term problems associated with it such as; the escalating rate of orphaned children across the country.
Bringing together various stakeholders, the First Lady’s office had facilitated an advocacy workshop to pinpoint what needs to be done by all especially opinion leaders in different communities.
she encouraged the Doctors, nurses and nursing assistants to adhere to universal precautions as outlined under infectious control practices. She thanked the People of Hastings and the Sierra Leone Police for their show of understanding and continuous support to the centre.
Madam Koroma reminds all of the dangers of discrimination, saying that Ebola is nobody’s choice.
Leave a Reply