STATEMENT DELIVERED BY THE SECRETARY TO THE CABINET AND HEAD OF THE CIVIL SERVICE ON THE OCCASION OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE VOLUNTARY (CASH) CONTRIBUTIONS OF PUBLIC/CIVIL SERVANTS IN THE OFFICE OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT AT STATE HOUSE ON WEDNESDAY 22ND OCTOBER, 2014. Your Excellency, On the 25th May, 2014, Sierra Leone recorded its first case of the ebola virus disease in the wake of the outbreak in neighbouring Guinea and Liberia respectively. This singular case and its ensuing trail of transmission to every District could be described as a national tragedy, similar to the first shot that was fired in Bomaru on 23rd March, 1990 that ignited one of the most senseless and wanton destructive rebel incursions in the modern history of armed conflicts. The Ebola Virus Disease war is even more disastrous than the rebel war itself since the enemy is invisible. We are here at State House this afternoon representing the Sierra Leone Civil/Public Service in response to your clarion call for all hands on deck in the fight against the EVD which has been described by WHO as the most severe, acute public health emergency in modern times. As dedicated servants and Your Excellency being our Minister for the Public Service of which the Civil Service is the core, we have vowed to support you and your government in whatever programs you are engaged in by responding to this fight in diverse ways with some at the forefront where some have even lost their lives. Most of them contracted the disease at the beginning of the outbreak in May, June and July because knowledge about Ebola was scanty and mistakes in protocols were responsible for the large spate of infection. They lost their lives while applying medical efforts to save lives. All those who lost their lives should really be honoured as they were the most committed staff of the Ministry. (A MINUTE SILENCE) Before this abysmal picture, Sierra Leone has been described by the International Community and our development partners as a vivid example of a success story of a post-conflict country rising from the ashes of war; as one of the fastest growing economies and a favourable destination for investors to do business; as one of the most peaceful and democratic country. A lot has been done and a lot more needs to be done to overcome the EVD. Resources are vastly needed. The Civil Service is poorly paid but because we have vowed to support you and the government, majority of us have voluntarily contributed to a fund raising campaign done by the leadership of the Civil Service and I do have in my possession a cheque for the modest sum of Le 282,057,980 (two hundred and eighty-two million, and fifty-seven thousand, nine hundred and eighty Leones) to help government in the fight against this strange disease (Ebola). Your Excellency, I now have great pleasure in presenting the cheque for the amount of Le 282,057,980 (two hundred and eighty-two million, and fifty-seven thousand, nine hundred and eighty Leones). E.S.A. SURRUR (DR.) Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service
Posted on: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 15:04:41 +0000
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