Freetown, Jan. 6, 2015 (MOHS) – The first Hastings Ebola Treatment Centre continues to make history with its 13th Set of survived victims from the Ebola virus disease.
The centre on Saturday discharged 12 survivors, among them a two (2) month-old baby which now gives a cumulative number of patients to the tune of over 400 hundred that have survived the virus since the opening of the centre in September 2014.
Addressing the survivors, relatives and friends at the Hastings Police Training School Keith Lewis Hall, the Centre Coordinator; Dr. Santigie Sesay reiterated their continued commitment and dedication to service, disclosing that the two months old baby Aminata Lamin came together with her mother who is still in admission, responding to treatment.
Baby Aminata Lamin due to the current state of the mother would be taken care of by the Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs Ministry Directorate for Children.
Making her statement, Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation II, Madam Madina Rahman described the month of January 2015 as the turn-around point to contain the Ebola pandemic.
She noted the natural emotion of the disease that involves families and their loved ones, stressing the need to avoid risk, and to adhere to the necessary precautionary measures.
Women, Madam Rahman observed, are more exposed to the infection, hoping that they would avoid the risk encountered in their domestic and family activities. To the men, she strongly warned to abstain from sexual activities for the stipulated 90 days to avoid infecting others as it would hinder the progress government and partners are making in the fight to eradicate the disease.
She commended the entire staff of the centre for the good work, and re-echoes the clarion call of President Koroma for collective national effort to patriotically make Sierra Leone Ebola free.
Other speakers include the Director of Children’s Affairs, Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs, Mrs. Mariatu Bangura.
She reiterated her Ministry’s commitment towards the well-being of vulnerable women and children, and the welfare and protection of child orphans.
Highlights of the ceremony include presentation of certificates, food and non-food items and a token of Le 250,000 as start-up package to the survivors.
JAK/KK/MOHS