In country situation

How is it here you may ask? That’s a difficult question to answer.

Ebola….. The cases reported fluctuate on a daily basis. My belief is that some restrictions were lifted too quickly whilst others probably did more harm than good. For instance, the road blocks you encountered are far fewer that they were previously. Having said that, there isn’t a consistent approach by the people operating them. If you are going to have road blocks, everyone should have to wash there hands, and the thermometers should be tested to ensure they are giving true readings. However, it would seem that if you drive a certain vehicle, your exempt from the rules. And readings that would indicate that you have expired seem to be ignored!!! So long as it reads less than 37 degrees. The other thing that has been relaxed far too quickly in my opinion is the hand washing at entrances to buildings. There are still the buckets with chlorinated water in them, however there use seems optional, whereas it should be compulsory until the virus is clear. There is a “lockdown” due in Freetown starting on the 27th of this month…… It would appear to be one of the things that do more harm than good. Stopping trade in a country where the vast majority have to earn enough money each day to survive the next seems totally unreasonable to me. I do understand the want to finally purge the country of this terrible virus, but I’m not sure the approach will do that.

The real tragedy here is, believe it or not, not the Ebola virus…… It’s the lack of primary health care in the country. There are far more medics here for Ebola than there are patients!? However, people are dying on a daily basis of preventable illness due to an inadequate health system. I don’t have figures to back up my claim, but I am convinced that the number of deaths from preventable illness far far exceed the numbers of death from Ebola.

Political unrest….. There has been an upheaval within the ruling government which has resulted in the Vice President being sacked. It’s the hot topic at the moment here. The VP is now taking the government to court as he believes it’s been done unlawfully. The VP seems to have the support of the common man at the moment, but he’s not “whiter than white” from what I hear. The thing is for me important is how it effects the country long term. From what I hear people saying, it is very likely to rumble on for some time. However, I also get the feeling that no one here wants a return to the violence of the past. Troubling times here though.

Prayers for the eradication of Ebola and the continued support of foreign country’s after the virus is clear are needed. Also for a peaceful resolution to the political unrest here.

More on the next blog

Ian