As at 14 August, 176 people had been killed by cholera with 10,800 cases recorded nationwide, according to a United Nations source in Freetown who does not wish to be named. The epidemic is said to be on the increase especially in the Western Area. The UN source says “government is covering up the enormity” of the situation but would not give reasons why.
The source made figures available to Politico, suggesting that the outbreak is particularly rising in the Western Area, which accounts for the majority of the cases.
“Out of 106 health facilities in Western Area, 74 reported on 14 August 2012. A total of 180 cases with 4 deaths were reported from 38 health facilities” our document shows. Please see table for nationwide detail.
Minister of Health and Sanitation, Zainab Bangura has denied a cover-up. “Cholera is a very damaging thing and for us to have support we must declare the true pictures so how can we cover up,” the minister said. She told Politico that her figures showed less than 10,000 cases but said the difference could be due to delay in the supply of figures. “No government will be reckless to cover up” she said.
Mrs Bangura said they were busy with resource mobilization and expressed dismay that only half the amount of US$ 5 Million needed to respond to the epidemic had been raised. She said that they had set up structures to respond to the outbreak but complained over the “lack of space” to set up centres in Freetown. She said they were afraid of using schools as centres because that would pose a risk to pupils when schools reopened.
