KEY POINTS
Three-day stay-at-home initiative in Sierra Leone end
President Condé of Guinea declare 45-day emergency measures in five districts
Number of cumulative EVD cases passes 25,000 with 10,398 reported deaths
Key Political and Economic Developments
The three day stay-at-home initiative (27 to 29 March) in Sierra Leone to re-energize EVD response efforts ended on 29 March. Government officials, UNMEER and response partners monitored implementation and assessed that overall compliance was good. There was a particular focus on Port Loko, Kambia, Moyamba, Koinadugu districts and Western Area – all current EVD hotspots. The border between Guinea and Sierra Leone was closed and people in border towns and villages stayed in their homes like everyone else. Emphasis was placed on adherence to the lines of action, particularly community participation, contact tracing, and safe and dignified burials (not washing dead bodies). UNMEER and response partners supported the DERCs in selected districts to develop localized monitoring plans. In the Western Area (Ward 372), the community informed partners of a person who died just before the exercise began, leaving a 10-year old son behind, and prompting health workers to make quick efforts to quarantine the child while further investigations are ongoing. In Bombali, an EVD case was discovered and the chain of transmission established which linked it to an EVD death on 12 March from the local hospital, itself linked back to Aberdeen in Freetown. Challenges observed so far are largely attributed to logistics and communications, some of which were addressed during the implementation. While some complained that the initiative restricted livelihood activities, overall, it was well received as many among the community, government and response partners believed complacency was setting in.
On 28 March, President Alpha Condé of Guinea declared a state of sanitary emergency for a period of 45 days in the districts of Forecariah, Coyah, Dubreka, Boffa and Kindia. Conakry will also be subject to enforcement of the measures. The declaration enables authorities to restrict movements in those EVD hotspots. President Condé also announced the closing and quarantining of private hospitals and clinics where the cases have been detected, limitations on participation in burials (only the close relatives should participate) and EVD testing of all corpses during the 45-day period. He reminded Guineans that any person hiding EVD cases or transporting dead bodies can be prosecuted. The declaration was endorsed by the Grand Imam and the Archbishop. These measures followed consultations on efforts to accelerate response among the President, the UNMEER SRSG Mr. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, response partners and the diplomatic community from 26 to 30 March.
Today in Guinea, the trial commenced in N’zérékoré of persons accused of killing eight EVD response workers in the locality of Womey in September 2014.
