KEY POINTS
Interview with Dr. David Nabarro, broadcast by the Independent Radio Network, a consortium of 41 radio stations present in all 15 districts in Sierra Leone.
Further work to support Mandingo community leaders as advocates in their community for safe and dignified burials.
Key Political and Economic Developments
- NSTR.
Response Efforts and Health
In total, 24,743 confirmed, probable, and suspected cases of EVD have been reported in the three most affected countries. There have been 10,216 reported deaths.
There were 6 new confirmed EVD cases in Sierra Leone on 19 March: 5 in Western Area Urban and 1 in Bombali.
Last week in Sierra Leone, to ensure maximum levels of preparedness to conduct medical evacuations of non- and EVD-symptomatic humanitarian staff, the WFP managed Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), via the specially equipped UNHAS helicopter, facilitated the transport of Ebola bio-bag medical isolation units from Lungi Airport to Cockerill in Freetown.
An assessment and feasibility mission of the French civil protection (sécurité civile), which is funded by France and the EU, named ERARE (Equipe Régionale d’Alerte de Riposte à l’Epidémie) arrived in N’zérékoré, Guinea, on 19 March. Their objective is to establish an epidemiological early warning system, which will be staffed by medical, laboratory and hygiene personnel to respond to diseases.
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is working with UNMEER and the prefectural coordination committees of Lola, Guinea Forestiere, on the preparation of cross-border meetings in those prefectures. The Lola cross border meeting will take place on 24 March. The dates for the Yomou cross-border meeting are yet to be decided. DRC will provide funding for both. UNMEER will coordinate the meetings and will also provide a professional French-English interpreter, which was lacking in earlier cross-border meetings.
In Guinea, following the closure of the N’zérékoré ETU laboratory, concerns over sending samples to Macenta for analysis are growing. Not only are results delayed, but they are more expensive. The Lola Coordination Committee is seeking assistance to cover additional fuel costs.
EVD supplies are being distributed in the schools and colleges in N’zérékoré, Guinea with the support of WFP.
