We pray for healing West Africa is experiencing the largest, most severe and most complex outbreak of Ebola virus disease in history. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared it an international public health emergency and has called for a global response against this disease saying that a coordinated international effort is essential to stop and reverse its spread. Sierra Rutile, in common with the nation mourns with those who have suffered the senseless loss of life. We mourn the tragic deaths of Dr. Sheik Humarru Khan, Dr Olivet Buck and all those valued health professionals who have worked so hard to bring this virus under control, and sacrificed themselves in the service of Sierra Leone. We mourn the devastation and damage to families and communities that this disease brings; and we pray for healing and for the courage to serve and reassure one another in love, hope and faith. Like the Government, Sierra Rutile has been preoccupied with ensuring all possible measures are in place to protect our people. Sadly public health crises such as this one, invariably generate a tide of fear, rumour and suspicion, making the truth difficult to identify. Panic and hysteria increase alongside unfounded speculation, creating an environment in which legitimate and proven attempts to bring the disease under control battle against superstition and tradition. We must guard against this. The World Health Organisation constantly stresses that it is possible to conquer Ebola if everyone sticks to a simple, but highly effective process which includes understanding the nature of the disease, how it is transmitted, and how to prevent it from spreading further; listening and adhering to the hygiene directives issued by our Ministry of Health, and other medical institutions; ensuring that people who develop symptoms of Ebola virus disease seek immediate and appropriate medical treatment in a health-care facility; and facilitating the authorities in their contact tracing and monitoring. These are actions we can all take to safeguard ourselves, our colleagues, our friends, our families, our communities and our livelihoods. We can also reach out to others and share the information about Ebola that we receive from official sources such as our health authorities. Telling people what to do to protect themselves is key to preventing new infections. These are times of testing and trial, and as the severity of the epidemic and its consequences becomes increasingly apparent, it is easy to lose faith in the strength we have in our unity as a country. In the past we have successfully faced and overcome hardship, loss and pain. We have strengthened one another by standing together, working together, and having faith in one another. We must not lose that now. While we pray that our government, our doctors and nurses and the international community will prevail, we must also recognise that we all have a part of play in combatting this epidemic, and that true victory against this disease can only be achieved through everyone’s combined effort. May God bless you all.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 18:24:51 +0000
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