From Deputy Chief of Mission Kathleen FitzGibbon November 5, 2014 Yesterday, over 95 traditional female healers discussed Ebola prevention with Centers for Disease Control’s Dr. Austin Demby, Sheik Abubakar, and Reverend Koroma. They watched a drama skit on Ebola ”Wi go kick Ebola ma” by Dwarzak Drama Group. In a highly interactive session, participants from the National Movement for Emancipation and Progress expressed their concerns about the deaths of health care workers and asked what they could do to prevent the spread of Ebola. Dr. Demby advised them to stop the washing of dead bodies and delivery of children in homes. They should call 117 to allow the health authorities to properly handle bodies and to get help for women who are delivering. He also gave tips for what to do while waiting for the responders to come. Do not allow anyone to touch a corpse or sick person, their body fluids, or any items that they have touched. Keep the sick person away from other family members, if possible in a separate room, or keep the mattress at least three feet away from those of the rest of the family. Use protective barriers such as gloves to cover exposed skin. Do not touch the outside of the protective barrier. Wash hands frequently with soap and water. Disinfect with chlorine solution. Do not share any items with them. Do not wash their closes, mattresses, sheets, or blankets. They need to be destroyed. The Mission showed its appreciation for health care workers on Tuesday and Wednesday. U.S. Mission Sierra Leone employees took up a collection among our ourselves and provided hot meals for the 260 health care workers at Hastings Police Training Center. In the two days, we were able to feed both shifts of hard-working, dedicated staff. They deserve everyone’s admiration as they are doing tough work under difficult conditions. We hope that others can find ways to thank the front-line workers. Congratulations to the U.K. for the opening of the Kerry Town Treatment Center, which is taking its first patients today! The first community care center opened on November 3 and others are opening in Port Loko District in the coming days. The military, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, World Health Organization, CDC, non-governmental organizations, and donors are working to keep up the pressure on Ebola by creating more beds to isolate patients. Port Loko, Western Area Urban and Rural, and Bombali remain key areas of Ebola transmission.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Nov 2014 10:12:08 +0000