The Chinese Center for Disease Control (CDC) team in Sierra Leone has launched a two day training programme for Councillors, Community and Religious leaders in three villages in the Western Rural District.

In his opening remarks, chairman Alhassan Cole of Western Rural District Council, said he was gratified that the Chinese Embassy gave heed to his call to come to help them fight the Ebola. He said the training is for three villages Jui, Grafton and Kossoh where he said the virus is still prevalent and they need to eradicate it within the shortest possible time.

“Few days ago, in a settlement called Sima Tong around Kossoh Town, we had 38 positive cases in which five have died. This is unacceptable and we must stop this virus now so that the country can return to development.”

Chairman Cole said he hopes the training will yield the required result and thanked the Chinese Ambassador and the CDC team for coming to their aid.

Deputy Foreign Affairs minister, Ebun Strasser-King said she was not surprised about what the Chinese has been doing as she has been part of all the help they have rendered to Sierra Leone. She said the Chinese are brothers to Sierra Leone and Sierra Leoneans will continue to be grateful for all what they have done for us during this time of crisis. She called on all the inhabitants and trainers to take this training very seriously so that the country can rid Ebola once and for all. “We want Ebola out of Sierra Leone and the time is now for us to win this. We have received all the support from the international community, but it is left with us to do the right thing by following the rules set by our Health officials, so that we can end the scourge within the shortest possible time.”

Ambassador Zhao Yanbo responding said China was the first to support Sierra Leone and they will not relent until the war is won. He said they have provided training for over 2,300 community and medical personnel already and they will continue to help the communities to win this war.

He called on all the people of Jui, Kossoh and Grafton not to relent as it is the right time to win this war by getting to zero case. “I would like to tell the world that since the first day of January, we have now converted Jui Hospital to Holding and Treatment Centre so as to help ease the pressure.”

Ambassador Zhao said since the bio safety lab started operations in the country, they have done about 3,500 blood tests and swabs as well as they have admitted over 500 patients in which about 100 of them have died. He said there is a long way to go especially in the Western Rural, which has given them the cause to come and train them to end the scourge.

World Health Organization (WHO) deputy Rep. Dr Zabulon Yoti said he was very happy for all what the Chinese have done for Sierra Leone and Africa. He said this outbreak is the 23rd outbreak in Africa and he has participated in 14 of them.

Dr Yoti said this is the first time that Ebola has hit both Rural and Urban areas. “In Uganda, we took four months to eradicate Ebola and I believe the time is now ripe for us to end it in Sierra Leone.” He said first and foremost, we should work to get the number down to zero because it is not an option.

“Secondly, we must build strong surveillance and contact tracing around strong communities who are the first and most important people in this fight.” Dr Yoti said the people of Sierra Leone should compliment the effort of the international community in doing the right thing so that Ebola will be a thing of the past. He commended Ambassador Zhao for his effort and hope China will continue to be around to help Sierra Leone beyond Ebola.

Deputy Health Minister Foday Sawi too spoke highly of China and the international community for their assistance and hoped and prayed that Ebola will soon come to an end.

The training of trainers started yesterday and will end today. Tomorrow Thursday, trainers will then have the opportunity to train people from the three communities, and that training will end on Friday at the College of Medicine, Jui. (Source:awoko.org)