No say in the matter...

After hearing about the "Salone lock-down", yesterday, I still can't imagine why or how this decision was made. Of course, we've had no official notice of this... but based on Reuters and other international news reports, I guess it's official. Seems like a strange way to announce a country lock-down via social and international media... but we're living in strange times. 

There are still too many questions to be able to reasonably assess the impact of this lock-down. But, I really hope we get some answers... Q: how much will all this cost (21,000 people to move door-to-door)? Q: are essential workers to be exempt (police, nurses, etc.)? Q: is the GoSL going to provide food and care for the entire country for 3-4 days? Q: who's going to run the logistics of this operation? ... Oh, the questions!! Perhaps you have questions... is there any way to assemble those questions and put them to a GoSL or Emergency Operations Committee member? What's missing is feedback from the public... how can people have their say?

Some of the local news...

Date: Monday, September 1, 2014

Publication: Concord Times

Headline: To stem new Ebola infections… Taxis and poda-podas to reduce passengers

Author: Patrick J. Kamara

Topic: Taxis to carry three passengers and poda-podas to carry one passenger per row

The Ministry of Transport and Aviation, with Sierra Leone Road Transport Authority (SLRTA), the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), Attitudinal and Behavioral Change (ABC) Secretariat and the Motor Drivers Union, has stated that starting on the 1^st of September, all taxis should carry three passengers (1 in the front and 2 behind) and mini-buses (poda-podas) should carry one passenger per row. Also, transport owners should sacrifice 25% payment of rental fees, while mini-buses are to comply with overloading rules. Private vehicles are also included in this rule. National Traffic Coordinator, Superintendent Ambrose M. Sovula, said traffic police will be arresting drivers who contravene the new regulations. President of the Drivers Union, Alpha A. Bah, said this would have a huge impact on the transportation sector as vehicle owners might prefer to park their vehicles. 

Date: Monday, September 1, 2014

Publication: Awoko

Headline: Kenema health workers down tools

Author: Saffa Moriba

Topic: Nurses strike in Kenema

Nurses and healthcare workers at the Kenema Ebola treatment centre went on strike on Saturday after the death of another colleague. Dr. Rogers had died the day prior. The nurses were protesting over the lack of pay (Le250,000/week). Dr. Christian Pratt, Medical Superintendent said he was trying to allocate monies.

Date: Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Publication: Premier News

Headline: Bible cure for Ebola

Author: Esme James

Topic: Ebola pestilence a punishment from god and confession and appreciation will overcome

In the religious corner of the newspaper, under a Christian Perspective, this article talks about Jesus and god crushing enemies and spiritual power to overcome any pestilence that confronts people. Ebola is a pestilence, punishment for sin and disobedience but the solution is confession and thank god for mercy.

Ed Note: This is an example of what some in the religious community are preaching.

William P. survives...

This is the British healthcare worker, William, who was recently evacuated from Sierra Leone by the UK government. I photographed him with a group of Ebola survivors in Kenema on the 6th of August. He was doing great work... very energetic, helpful and enthusiastic. My thoughts are with him as he's treated in London.

William Pooley was recently released from hospital in the UK. He survived. 

Drugs... not the solution anytime soon

I've read a lot about the possibility of drugs being available for Ebola - from vaccines to antidotes to "cures". Even my country, Canada, has been a focus of some of these discussions. But, I think we're placing far too much emphasis on this far-fetched, far-off, untested and experimental solution to Ebola. The fact is there are very, very few doses of these drugs. The fact is the drugs are NOT adequately tested for use on people. The fact is, up to now, the drugs have the same rate of survival as early, adequate treatment - about 50:50. The fact is it will take months or years to develop any one of these drugs, in sufficient quantities, for the market.
Again, the solution is containment, treatment and prevention... CDC, WHO, MSF, Red Cross... they all say that. We can "hope" for the best... but we know what to do... and, as the NIKE ad says, "Just do it!"

Better for it...

In many ways, Sierra Leone will benefit from the attention paid to hand washing and general cleanliness including infection control. Can we please pay some attention to men (mainly) urinating in public gutters. Unhygienic practices or habits like "pissing in public", spitting, blowing noses onto streets and open defecation are not only grotesque, unhygienic and unhealthy... right now they're dangerous. I know this is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the many challenges Salone faces... but it's worth thinking about. Open latrines, unhygienic practices, open gutters and a lack of sanitation should be on the list of "things to return to the normal trajectory of development".

Wanting to help... but

I had a drink and dinner with a good friend yesterday. We were sitting at Juliet's "sweet Africa" shack built out of sticks and tarps. Over dinner, my friend and I talked about Ebola, an ever-present topic of discussion.
A young guy, sitting within earshot, commented that he wanted to do something to protect people from Ebola. This guy, David, was young, healthy and obviously bright. I asked him why he wasn't up-country helping his family or any of the many NGOs working on the Ebola issue. He said he needed support. He wanted to travel and help... but also wanted some NGO or international group to pay him.
My friend and I commented that organizations in Kailahun, Kenema and other areas of Sierra Leone need people to help... help with burial teams... help with contact tracing... help with Ebola teaching... help with cleaning... etc. David admitted he was afraid to be so closely involved. I understand given the risks involved in some of the helping hands activities.