Whilst emphasizing the significance of upholding law and order in the state, President Ernest Bai Koroma Sunday 15 March expressed utter dismay with the people of Bombali district and warned that no country will develop without law and order. He made this admonition during a town hall meeting at the Makeni City Council to assess progress made by the District Ebola Response Center (DERC) to fend off the Ebola virus disease from the district.
The president rebuked his home district for not complying with the byelaws and regulations meant to break the chain of transmission of the disease, saying that if they had fully complied with the laws they wouldn't have lagged behind so far in the fight to end the epidemic. “All of this is happening because the accurate situation has not been reported and people have not committed themselves to the enforcement of the byelaws and health regulations,” he said.
President Koroma admonished the people of Bombali to take ownership and responsibility of the fight against Ebola, and pointed out that although the DERC had claimed to have done the very best in containing the virus, “it is the result that determines how effective the district has worked to contain the disease.”
He urged for strengthening of checkpoints and a halt to unabated cultural and traditional practices by the people. He cited the case of one Abass Koroma who was Ebola positive, traveled to Rosanda village in Bombali, thereby infecting over 54 people with 42 deaths recorded over the period.
President Koroma observed that if a herbalist is operating in a community he/she must have been given clearance by the Chiefs and Headmen, and warned that any mistake will reverse the efforts made so far in the fight against the virus, while clearly stating that as president of Sierra Leone he has the responsibility to ensure that people enjoy equal facilities and that Bombali cannot continue to hold the development of other districts to ransom.
The president disclosed plans for the reopening of schools, but however said this was unlikely because of the spiking increase in new cases in Bombali.
“Schools won't reopen if Ebola is not eradicated but we can't just sit by and continue to close schools,” he said, and quickly added that some people do not want Ebola to end because they are having contracts and benefits from the outbreak at the expense of the country.
President Koroma urged Bombali to emulate nearby Tonkolili district for the gains they have made as they had gone 20 days without a new confirmed case.
The DERC Coordinator Dr Emmanuel Conteh admitted that complacency appears to have crept in the district Ebola response and that the attitudes of people continue to remain a challenge. He said they are strengthening PHUs to resume normal health delivery services.
Ambassador Alhaji Osman Foday Yansanneh on behalf of the descendants of the district promised to raise their game to fend off the disease.
Haja Ramatu Kanu commenting on preparation for the reopening of schools said they had set up committees, conducted needs assessment, disinfection of schools and have engaged the local communities to restore confidence.
By State House Communications Unit
