As Ebola continues to be a growing threat; take the lives of citizens and even health workers, infected persons continue to increase on a daily basis.
In the opinion of some Sierra Leoneans it is a national issue, which the military must be in the forefront to fight.
Khadija Bangura who said she was present when the defence medical team was sensitizing their men and family at Wilberforce Barracks said she wonders why the military has neglected the Ebola fight, stating that their internal sensitization was very interactive.
She said that such fight is a national one that needs to be championed by the military but they are not doing anything.
Mariama who is residing at Daru town disclosed to Awoko over the phone that all the military men in Daru town are confined in their Barracks and not seen in any alarming Ebola scene.
She alleged that the “military men are relaxed in their quarters – totally ignoring the fight against Ebola.”
Speaking to the Director of Defence Medical Services Lt. Col Sahr K. Lansana, he said his office serves as a link between 34 military hospital and the Ministry of Defence adding that his office formulates medical policies.
He said the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces is charged with the responsibility of Supporting the government of the day, and that they take instructions from the president who is the Commander in Chief and support him in order to achieve his aspirations in a democratic setting.
Questioned about their intervention on the Ebola Epidemic, Lt. Col. Lansana said in a very relaxed mood “we are engaged in internal sensitization and we are not involved in any civilian engagement with regards the fight against Ebola.”
He said the reason for that is because the President of Sierra Leone has not instructed them to do so. He maintained that until the President instructs them they will be confined in their barracks and prevent themselves from the disease.
“When the time is ripe, the President in his wisdom will instruct us to take over the fight, other than that if we decide to engage in the fight without the instruction of the President and something bad happens to us, then we have ourselves to blame,” Lt. Col. Lansana said.
He said they are very proactive in their internal sensitization disclosing that since Ebola showed up in Guinea they have started sensitizing their military men in every District and area because they knew it will definitely reach Sierra Leone.
Lt. Col Lansana pointed out that even though the disease has entered the country in a devastating manner, yet “no service personnel has been infected.”
He said Ebola started in May and long before that they have organized a trip all over the country to sensitize their troops about the deadly disease. He said that they tell their men about the mode of transmission, preventive methods and that they go along with flyers that must be read to get them informed about the disease.
Lt. Col Lansana said after the trip they wrote a report and based on the recommendations, they have established hand washing centres in all the units in RSLAF and are also strictly implementing the strategies by the Ministry of Health with regards prevention and control within the military.
“We have put measures in place in one and two battalion that is Daru and Kenema respectively that no soldiers should leave the barracks and go to the town. They are all confined in their barracks and if they are caught outside they will be penalized” he said.
He said even though as of now their activities are confined, they are very willing to work whenever the president instructs them, stating that will come very soon because the Ebola threat is alarming now.
Lt. Col Lansana called on civilians to join hands with them and not ignore the process when once they take over.
By Emmanuella Kallon
Tuesday July 29, 2014