July 19, 2021
By Aruna Kamara in Bo
The Regional Coordinator of NACOVERC in the Southern Region, Mohamed E.K Alie who doubles as the Resident Minister in the south has categorically stated that with the 3rd Wave aggressively hitting the country there is a need for a treatment center
He made this statement during the visit of the National Coronavirus Emergency Response Centre (NaCOVERC) with officials of the security sector in the Southern Region at DiCOVERC Office in Bo last week
Welcoming the guests, the Regional Coordinator NaCOVERC Southern Region, Mr. Mohamed E. K. Allie, said the visit of NaCOVERC National body is important and key. He noted that the Coronavirus third wave is dangerous and deadly but that he has been able to work with all stakeholders in the south and they have had a good working relationship along the way.
Updating NaCOVERC about the status of the treatment center in Bo, Mr Allie said that when the cases subsided during the last wave, Bo DiCOVERC returned facilities of the treatment center that OSIWA rehabilitated. He noted that with the 3rd Wave, there is a need for a treatment center.
Mohamed E.K Allie said there is also a need for Bo to have a Laboratory to serve the south. He informed the gathering that he is in discussion with a Sierra Leonean who is from Bo over possible help to respond to the gaps at the center.
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About the purpose of their visit, Rtd Major Gen. DTO Taluva, Adviser to the NaCOVERC Chairman, said countries have started projecting Sierra Leone negatively and that as a county, it has to fight to redeem its image.
Major General Taluva recalled that on the 1st July, 2021 President Julius Maada Bio made a nationwide address and put out what Sierra Leoneans should do in order not to spread the Coronavirus. He said NaCOVERC is under obligation to enforce the presidential order so that hospitals cannot be overwhelmed with cases.
He noted that countries like UK and United Arab Emirates have blacklisted Sierra Leone. He said Coronavirus as a national health emergency and it is the responsibility of the security sector to enforce the regulations to save the lives of Sierra Leoneans from the pandemic.
Rtd Major Gen. D.T.O Taluva noted that the second purpose of their visit was to have a national security architecture put in place to ensure that Coronavirus is defeated in the country, urging the Regional Coordinator of NaCOVERC Southern Region, the Assistant Inspector General of Police South, the Brigade Commander Bo to work together.
District coordinator, Moyamba DiCOVERC, Hon. Joseph Kaindor, while updating the gathering about the status of Coronavirus in Moyamba District, said they have recorded 77 cumulative cases. He revealed that most of their cases are coming from the hospital.
Bonthe Coordinator of DiCOVERC, Joseph Kamara, said that they recorded, adding that the cases in Bonthe are coming from people who are reporting to the hospital.
Pujehun District Coordinator, Gbato Kemokai, said that they have had 43 cases cumulatively. The Bo DiCOVERC update indicates that it recorded 130 cases.
During security update by SLP, AIG Edward Samadia said that they have good working relationship especially with the RSLAF. He noted that during this third wave, people have lost their lives.
Police AIG Samadia said that after the pronouncement by President Bio, himself and the Brigade Commander started to visit many areas to ensure compliance.
Representing the Brigade Commander of the 5th infantry Battalion in Godama, Major Issa Samura said that 40 personnel were deployed. He said after cases started reducing there was another directive from headquarters which led to the reduction of their personnel by 10.
He noted that 25 personnel are presently working with Bo DiCOVERC. and pleaded with authorities to add more personnel to beaf up security.
AIG Menunatu Jalloh, said that Coronavirus is a national fight and that they as security sector should own the fight.
“We are here to serve the people. We want the police and the military to work together,” AIG Jalloh said.
She noted that everywhere they have gone, they have observed that there was a good working relationship between the two security sectors.
Strategic Adviser on Social Mobilization, NaCOVERC, Hon. Alpha Kanu, said he was impressed with the turn out. He said those who have been infected with the virus were over 6,000 in Sierra Leone. Alpha Kanu added that the security has a bigger role in the fight against Covid-19. He disclosed that some months ago, Sierra Leone was described as one of the low risk country to travel. “But today, western countries have put Sierra Leone as a danger place to go because of Covid-19,” Kanu, adding that all this is happening because people are not adhering to the measures. He said that enforcement of the regulations is the best thing to do at this moment to save the nation.
Bo District Medical Officer, Dr. Roland Mash, said that as long as any country keeps recording cases, no one is safe. Dr. Mash said they’re running after the virus. He said as a country what is more important now is to have surveillance to fight. The DMO pleaded with NaCOVERC to add more staff as they had scaled down their workforce twice.
“If the virus is not tired, we should not be tired as a country, says Dr. Mash.