Recently, Ishmael Alfred Charles joined Dr Kent Brantly as a witness at a joint hearing on Ebola in West Africa in Washington, DC.
I was curious about his background as a child soldier morphed into a humanitarian aid worker.Therefore without any doubt I reveled at the opportunity on behalf of EngAyde, to have a phone conversation prior to the hearing.
EngAyde: Hello, Ishmael, I am Sia Jasmine Wonday. On behalf of EngAyde, welcome to our nation’s capital. EngAyde is a group of professionals interested in communicating reliable information during the current Ebola crisis. How did you become a witness at this hearing?
Ishmael: Nice to meet you Sia. I currently work with Caritas, Sierra Leone as a Program Manager. Caritas partners with HealeyInternational ReliefFoundation. They are Catholic nonprofit organizations working closely with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social Welfare and Emergency Operations Centre in Sierra Leone. I was chosen, because I was a child soldier who turned my life around and made a career with these international relief organizations. As a local, I can testify from the Sierra Leonean perspective on the social and health impact of Ebola crisis. I am accompanied by Father Conteh, Executive Director of Caritas in Sierra Leone.
EngAyde: What has been Caritas’ focus during the Ebola crisis?
I: We have been supporting the Police in contact tracing and restricting movement of residents. We also have been distributing chlorine to the public and [supported] government efforts in the 3-day lock down to facilitate door to door sensitization on prevention of Ebola.
EngAyde: Do you think you will be given an opportunity to talk during the hearing and if so what are your talking points?
Ishmael: Yes, I have been allocated 5 mins and these are my talking points:
- Sierra Leone needs international effort more than ever.
- Sierra Leone’s economy is in a free fall with the Ebola crisis.
- Our health system is deteriorating at a rapid pace and We need to rebuild our fragile health care system.
- Post Ebola, we have to put systems in place for the orphans created by this crisis.
- Businesses have closed down. We need investors.
- Indefinite school closure and the social repercussion of teenage pregnancy among others.
EngAyde: They are indeed good talking points but what if you were asked how does Sierra Leone intend to address the cultural issues relating to burial practices that is wreaking havoc on containment of the Ebola Virus?
Ishmael: We can only continue to educate and respond early as soon as Ebola cases are reported. The case in the village of Jaiama is a record example.The Imam died and some members of the village chose to bathe with left over water from preparation of Imam for burial.The appropriate authorities were informed and the village was quarantined.
EngAyde: Yes, a glimmer of hope. We continue to hope and pray that this nightmare comes to an end. Thanks for your hard work in curbing this virus. Hopefully I can catch up with you after the hearing.
I must emphasize Ishmael struck me as a very confident and articulate gentleman. He was softly spoken and I was keen to put a face to the voice. Like many Sierra Leoneans, I watched the live stream of the Appropriation hearing, listening to Ishmael with mixed feelings. Pride and anxiety. I was eager to share his thoughts on the Senate hearing. I reached the very tired but optimistic Ishmael by phone again.
This is what he had to say:
EngAyde: Hello Ishmael, I listened in on the Hearing and I must say your talking points were succinct and convincing. I also noticed you were emotional when you mentioned leaving your 10 year old daughter behind. Moreover I noted that Senator Harkin made a statement after your testimony that families were being affected and human action is indeed a desperate need. So what is your take away from this Hearing?
Ishmael: Thanks Sia.I intended to put a human face on the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone and I believe I did just that.Senator Harkin also mentioned that the Ebola crisis has confirmed that public health policies must stop chasing diseases after the fact and start building health systems around the globe to tackle these diseases.I am glad he said that.The CDC has to work with every CDC in every developing country until we are self-reliant.
EngAyde: I agree. I was elated to learn during the Hearing that the FY15 budget has an increase of 45 million allocated to public health. So howwould you describe the actual situation left behind 2 days ago with respect to the Tourism sector? This sector was hardest hit during the civil war and it has gone back full cycle with the Ebola crisis.
Ishmael: The situation is grim with the Tourism sector. There are hardly any guests at hotels. Even the Farmers and Vendors to these hotels are struggling. It is turning into a Hunger crisis too. As for the hospitals they are defunct. People don’t go to the hospitals out of fear of contracting the virus. I wouldn’t even mention dentists where you are definitely going to have body contacts and risk of exchanging bodily fluids. There are more hearings scheduled this week so hopefully we believe we will put Ebola at our back.
EngAyde: We hope and pray so. Thanks for your time and I wish you safe travels back to Sierra Leone.
Sia Jasmine Wonday is an Accountant with the District of Columbia, Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, DC and a volunteer with EngAyde.
(C) Politico 21/10/14
