The Vice President of Sierra Leone, Victor Bockarie Foh has called on stakeholders in Tonkolili district not to be labour themselves on an Ebola case that ‘never was’ because if the second index case is negative (then) there is no need to prove what does ‘not’ exist.
Dr. Foh made this statement whiles responding to issues raised by the Education Minister and Member of Parliament for Magburaka town regarding their continual challenge on the second Ebola case of the 38 year old woman who, according to them, is healthy and will be released today, Thursday 4th February to reunite with her family in Magburaka.
Vice President Victor Bockarie Foh said the first two days after the case was confirmed were contentions among youths and other stakeholders in the district on the matter but due to the stunt leadership being demonstrated by all of them resulted in the community’s total support in the fight. He called on them not to belabour themselves in an Ebola case that ‘never was’, pointing out that if the second index case that was sent to 34 Hospital had turned into another form then there would have been an issue of proof but since it remains negative there is no need to prove what ‘does not exist,’ he maintained.
Vice President Foh expressed his gratitude to locals in the district especially those under quarantine and the youths for their collaborative efforts in fighting the scourge as he call on them to remain vigilant and fight in the interest of the people. He stated clearly that, “I did not believe anybody did anything wrong in the fight, starting with the health workers, our International partners (WHO), DHMT and our youths,” he concluded.
The Health Minister, Dr. Abu Bakarr Fofanah said though the recent outbreak was received with mixed feelings of denial and anger in the district it is worth to note that our country is not the only country the virus had resurfaces twice, pointing at Liberia with two outbreaks after declaration. He said the manner at which stakeholders in the district handled the fight has demonstrated that as a country we need to heighten our state of readiness and that their reservation will not be stopped.
The Education Minister, Dr. Minkailu Bah assured all that nothing wrong would happen in the district especially when they are around, stating that the youths had their reservation about the two cases to be untrue but however confirmed that the first day when the swab result was out they did demonstrate but later followed and allowed the process to go on.
Dr. Bah went on to state that, “I challenged the second case from start to date because the woman was not sick and before taking to the Magburaka hospital her temperature was taken and was normal. So, keeping her at 34 Hospital is a ploy by the health team because two of her test results from Public Health England and The Chinese hospital, respectively, showed negative and the woman will be discharged tomorrow.”
“The country is going backward in terms of development and because we are not comfortable with the second case as a district, we are going to investigate it. At least, as a government let us tell our partners to do what is right,” he concluded.
By Mohamed Kabba
Thursday February 04, 2016
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