The National COVID-19 Emergency Response Centre (NaCOVERC) on Saturday 13th February was involved in a massive sensitisation across the Western Area to raise citizens’ awareness to follow the protocols aimed at keeping each other safe.
Explaining the sensitisation to journalists, NaCOVERC Spokesman Solomon Jamiru explained that “week on week the rate of infection is going down,” which means that the measures put in place are working especially the 10pm to 5am curfew, enforcing of wearing of face masks, and testing across the city.
“We believe that we must enforce these laws because before the holidays last year we were doing very well. We indeed envisaged that during the festive period there will be an increase of cases and we were not surprised. All we needed to do was to make sure we revisited some of the measures that made us to win international accolades.”
He said they organised the sensitisation because they want to return to the stage of having one or two cases, which they believe will make Sierra Leoneans continue to obey the laws and protect one another from infections. The spokesman averred that though the positive cases over the past two days “are very encouraging,” it won’t stop them from doing continuous sensitisation across the Western Area, which is the epicenter of the cases.
“We want the entire Western Area to be free of the virus and the only way we can succeed is to make sure that we encourage everybody to wear mask, wash their hands and keep the social distance. We know it is difficult for those in the market places, but if they all wear masks and wash their hands regularly then we will be able to win the battle and free the country off the virus.”
From Lumley to Goderich and beyond many Sierra Leoneans who received the messages accepted them; those without mask were given some by the various NaCOVERC teams, who encouraged them to stay safe and always wear their masks.
Other teams went from Kissy Road to Waterloo doing the same and sensitising the people on the virus and how they can protect their loved ones and themselves by following all the protocols.
On the vaccine, Solomon Jamiru said Sierra Leone is one of the countries in the COVAX SCHEME of countries that are challenged to produce or buy the vaccine, which will be given to them.
“We are part of them and we hope that the vaccine will be given to us, whether it is from Sinopharm, Moderna, Pfizer, Astra Zaneca or Sputnik we will receive them because all the efficacies had been proven; and also, when they arrive, our team of experts too will check before we can even think of distribution.”
The spokesman said when the time comes for distribution they will have to prioritise the health workers and those that have underlying sicknesses, but made it clear that the quantity donated will determine how they do the distribution.
He prevailed on all to continue wearing the face mask and follow all protocols. He said the government is aware of the economic challenges that some people are undergoing because of the curfew, but said “the earlier we can put it under control the better for us all,” as they will relax the measures to make sure that people will be able to conduct business day and night.
“I want to reassure all again that the government has no intention of a lockdown; and if we think that we needed one, we will make it very clear to all. But for now there is no intention of a lockdown in the country.”
AT/15/02/2021