Medair opened an isolation centre on a football field in Kuntorloh, an eastern suburb of the country’s capital of Freetown in Western Urban District, on 9 January 2015. The area has been one of the worst hit by Ebola, and was identified by the National Ebola Response Centre as an Ebola “hot spot”.
Since the centre opened, Medair has admitted 94 people suspected and confirmed of contracting the virus. Until recently, the centre was operating as a holding unit, identifying Ebola cases, screening them, beginning treatment and referring them to nearby hospitals.
However, despite the national number of new cases decreasing, the centre’s caseload was steadily increasing. Medair has since expanded its treatment capacity and staff are now treating six confirmed Ebola patients.
Sorie Sesay, 24, was admitted to the centre on 26 January with vomiting, diarrhoea, and a fever.
“Upon arrival, Sorie was extremely confused and disoriented, a common symptom of the Ebola virus,” said Marie Petry, a Medair nurse. “He was repeatedly asking to go home and to die at home. Thankfully, our medical staff were able to quiet him down and settle him in the confirmed-case ward.”
After a few days of supportive treatments such as pain control and hydration with oral fluids, Sorie’s health started improving. He regained his appetite and strength, and his fever dropped. Medair staff waited for Sorie to be symptom-free for three days before sending a blood sample to the lab for analysis. When it came back negative, staff were able to confirm that Sorie was Ebola-free.
“Emotions were running high when two of his sisters came to get him,” said Wendy Dyment, Medair’s Health Advisor. “Tears of joy and relief were shed for the life of this young man who has lost both parents to Ebola.”
In addition to treating patients at the Ebola centre, Medair works in collaboration with local NGO, Lifeline Nehemiah Projects, to offer critical support to quarantined families and to raise awareness of how to avoid contracting the virus and what to do if one shows Ebola symptoms.
Their work is supported by United States Agency for International Development (USAID); through UK aid, Läkarmissionen (SE) and Band Aid Charitable Trust.
Medair helps people who are suffering in remote and devastated communities around the world survive crises, recover with dignity, and develop skills to build a better future.
For more information on Medair’s work in Sierra Leone, click here.
Lifeline Nehemiah Projects is a part of LifeLine Network International, a network of grassroots community organisations. For more information, please visit http://www.lifelinenetwork.org/
According to the World Health Organization, as of 1 February 2015, there have been 10,740 cases of Ebola in Sierra Leone, and 3,276 people have died of the virus in the country. Sierra Leone surpasses Liberia and Guinea with the number of cases. This web update was produced with resources gathered by Medair field and headquarters staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organisation.