By Fatmata Jengbe
Brima Koroma, who happens to be Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Senegal has appealed to health workers in Sierra Leone to remain professional at all time, remain committed to the cause and take all the necessary precautions in handling the Coronavirus.
During a Press interview, the Ambassador said following the outbreak in Senegal, no Sierra Leonean has been infected or quarantined and that the Embassy is in touch with them further urging them to adhere to the Government regulations and to take precautionary measures.
Asked about the current situation of COVID-19 in Senegal the Ambassador stated that Senegal reported its first Coronavirus index on 2nd March 2020 after a Frenchman returned to Senegal on board Air France on 26th February.
According him the infected person was immediately quarantined and tested afterward. “Since then the number keeps on soaring. The good news is that doctors at the Pasteur Institute in Dakar where the tests are performed say the use of chloroquine was encouraging and out of a lot of 175 cases as at today 40 have been cured. Yes the numbers keep increasing but no death has been registered,” he responded.
On how safe are Sierra Leonean residents in Senegal and what precautionary measures have been put in place for the Embassy staff he said following the outbreak of the virus, the Government of Senegal declared a State of Emergency and ordered the closure of schools and universities throughout the country, banned all public gatherings and imposed a curfew.
He said military personnel have been deployed to ensure compliance and that no Sierra Leonean so far has been affected.
“As the number of cases increases daily, the Embassy in line with most of the diplomatic Missions temporarily suspended operations so also is our Mission maintaining social distance and the use of hand sanitizers,” he revealed.
Asked what form of sensitization the Embassy is embarking on to Sierra Leoneans, the Ambassador said mostly through the Government directives and adherence to the Coronavirus health rules everybody is complying with the directives. He added that through social Media groups, the Sierra Leone Union is encouraging members to take Government directives seriously to avoid any breach of the law.
He furthered that they have put out notices to encourage them limit their movements in a bid to contain the virus.
Asked whether anyone has being infected or quarantined he said as he stated earlier no Sierra Leonean has contracted the virus as at the time of the interview stating that he hopes we maintain the situation in this way until the virus is declared over.
On lessons from Dakar he said before the virus struck the President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio, was on the right trajectory when he declared a State of Public Emergency and the closure of our borders to contain the virus from entering the country.
He said now that it has been confirmed, the safety rules and compliance have to be pursued vigorously adding that curfew should be declared and anyone found breaking those rules should be dealt with accordingly.
The Ambassador said the virus has been declared by the WHO as a pandemic noting that by enforcing the safety regulations to avoid the spread of the virus no single person or group of persons is being spared the brunt of the virus. “Indeed the petty traders and those plying the route to Senegal are adversely affected as there is no business going on now. The whole country is at a standstill and the effect of the virus on the economy is felt far and wide,” he said.
He stated we should stay at home and avoid unnecessary movement saying with the curfew in place they will urge them to respect the laws of the land.
The Ambassador said as professionals we must remain committed to the cause and take all the necessary precautions in handling the virus.
He said the medical personnel in Dakar in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Action give regular updates on the progression of the virus. With the whole country behind the President’s declaration including Opposition Parties, Civil Society Organizations and the Diplomatic Missions much awareness has been raised.
He disclosed how the Media is at the forefront of the fight against the virus furthering that daily updates are translated in all the major languages in the country and relayed throughout by the various print and electronic media.
“Ours is not as serious as elsewhere, but that perception will change quickly if we narrow this fight to partisan fight and flout all safety regulations Government has put in place. Let us be resilient in this fight and by the grace of Allah ours will vanish as quickly as it came.
Maintain social distance and observe social behaviour. Together we can defeat the virus. Stay at home and May God bless Sierra Leone,” he concluded.
