Thousands protest in Sierra Leone over Ebola


Health workers preparing to tend to Ebola patients


There was pandemonium in Sierra Leone`s third largest city, Kenema, as thousands of residents Friday clashed with police during anti government demonstrations over the authorities` handling of the Ebola epidemic.
Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowds who surrounded the main government hospital and a police station chanting anti government slogans.
According to sources, a 9-year old boy was gunned down during the skirmishes, allegedly by police. But the police has denied this.
The incident in Kenema happened as police in Freetown mounted a manhunt for a woman who tested positive for the Ebola virus.
32 year old Saudatu Koroma, a hair dresser, is the first ever Freetown resident to have tested positive for the virus, the ministry of Health and Sanitation said.
Previous cases and deaths in the densely populated capital city attributed to the Ebola have been traced to the epicenter of the outbreak in the east of the country.
Weapon-wielding family members of the infected woman stormed the King Herman Road hospital in the west of the capital on Thursday and forcibly removed her after realizing she was being tested for the deadly hemorrhagic fever disease, officials said.

Lead doctor in Sierra Leone`s Ebola fight tests positive

Dr Shiekh Umar Khan

Sad news in Sierra Leone! Reporting coming out of Kenema that the man who is leading the country`s battle against the Ebola outbreak has himself tested positive for the virus has really touched nerves.

Dr Sheikh Umar Khan is head of the Lassa Fever program and lead expert in viral hemorrhagic fevers in the country.

The Lassa Fever Center which accommodates the only testing facility for Ebola in Sierra Leone is housed at the Kenema Government Hospital in the east of the country. It`s at the center of protest by nurses who want it relocated.

The ministry of Health and Sanitation Tuesday asked for prayers for his speedy recovery.

Dr Khan has been in charge of the center located at the headquarter town of Kenema for about 10 years and fell ill after personally treating over 100 patients with the Ebola since the outbreak in May, the ministry said.

He was taken to the second treatment center in Kailahun, which is run by MSF.

Health minister, Miatta Kargbo, personally confirmed the news of Dr Khan`s health status and described him as

WHO regional head tours Ebola infected countries

Dr Luis Sambo, WHO regional director for Africa

The World Health Organization`s (WHO) regional director for Africa, Dr. Luis Gomes Sambo, has called on governments of the three Ebola infected West African countries to increase community participation in the fight against the disease.

Dr Sambo, who was in Freetown on Wednesday, was on a tour of the region “to get more insight, review current outbreak response and challenges, and explore the best ways to rapidly contain the EVD (Ebola virus disease) outbreak in West Africa,” his office said.

The meetings also offered opportunity for the UN health agency to pressure the governments on the follow up to the recently concluded Accra summit on Ebola, which emphasizes on greater community involvement in the response strategies.

WHO notably wants governments to implement national strategic plans which highlight the need for greater community level participations.

Dr Sambo held meetings with President Ernest Bai Koroma, the Inter-ministerial Taskforce on Ebola, the UN Country Team, as well as development partners.