Burying the dead
By Umaru Fofana in Freetown and Septimus Senessie in Kono
A document from the UN World Health Organisation says the Ebola outbreak has killed 57 people across the country in less than one month.
They include two deaths in Kenema and Port Loko districts.
Contrary to figures released by the ministry of health which on 21 June put the number of deaths at 33, these WHO figures obtained by Politico say the 57 have died and the figures cover only up to 17 June, with 103 confirmed cases, 19 probable, and 14 suspected.
It details the geographical distribution as follows: Kailahun - 128 cases and 55 deaths, Kambia - 1 case and 0 deaths, Port Loko - 2 cases and 1 death, Kenema - 4 cases and 1 death and Western Area, 1 case and 0 death.
It is not immediately clear what has led to the huge spike in cases and deaths in the last two weeks, but when contacted last week, the director of disease prevention and control, Dr Amara Jambai attributed it to access to the epicentre. "The areas that initially were inaccessible are now being reached" he told Politico.
Meanwhile the authorities in Kono district have slammed an indefinite ban on the popular weekly trade fair because of the Ebola outbreak in neighbouring Kailahun district.
The Luma, as the trade fair is locally known, used to take place at the Konomanyi Lorry Park in Koidu attracting hundreds of traders from across the district and far away Guinea.
The decision followed a special meeting in the office of the Mayor of Koidu, Saa Emmerson Lamina which brought together officials from the Office of the National Security (ONS), local councils, the police, district health management team and traditional authorities, among others.
The ONS District Coordinator, Sorie Ibrahim Koroma told Politico that the suspension was a “unanimous decision". He added that it followed intelligence received that farmers and businesspeople in Kailahun, the epicentre of the Ebola outbreak wanted to take their goods to Koidu following a ban on the cross border trade fair in southeastern district.
The Manager of Health Systems Strengthening at the Ministry of Health told Politico that “at the moment Kono district is Ebola-free with no suspected cases.” Dr. Joseph Ngagba Kandeh said the ban would be enforced through the mounting of three Ebola checkpoints at Woama town in Tankoro chiefdom towards the border with Kailahun district, Njegbwema Town in Fiama chiefdom and Kombayendeh Town in Lei chiefdom to prevent the sporadic entering into Kono of people from Guinea and Kailahun.
He said there would be medical tents at the checkpoints with trained medical personnel screening all those entering the district. He urged the people to report to the district medical team anyone from Kailahun to prevent them from the disease.
Many traders have however criticised the trade ban. Petty trader Zainab Kamara told Politico at the market ground that the decision was “untimely and uncalled for”. She said the trade fair was their major source of livelihood suggesting instead that what the authorities should have done was to engage in massive Ebola sensitisation in the suburbs where the people are ignorant about the dangers it posed.
Others complained that the ban would mean starving them of food and education for their children as they cannot afford their fees through any other means.
(C) Politico 24/06/14
