MONROVIA, Montserrado – The head of Liberia’s Incident Management System, Tolbert Nyenswah, has issued a health and travel alert to all Liberians going to neighboring Sierra Leone and Guinea.
Nyenswah told a news conference last Thursday in Monrovia that Liberians should pay attention to the new wave of Ebola outbreak in the two countries. The conference was attended by several government officials.
Nyenswah noted that from May 1-7, Sierra Leone and Guinea reported 15 and 16 confirmed cases of the virus, respectively. Accordingly, he warned Liberians traveling to these two countries to avoid travel if they do not have anything meaningful to do there.
“Liberians attending burial ceremonies and also visiting healthcare facilities in Sierra Leone and Guinea should be cautious because of the active transmission of the deadly virus,” Nyenswah said.
Nyenswah said Liberia needs to help support its neighbors to remain vigilant in fighting the virus.
He reiterated that the Incident Management System will continue to ensure that Liberia is safe from Ebola and other diseases by strengthening its border surveillance.
Nyenswah urged Liberians to continue washing their hands and also checking their temperature. “Liberians should not be complacent and continue to take into consideration all of the measures required to keep them safe,” he said.
Thursday’s announcement by Nyenswah also marked the 75th day since Liberia had any new cases of the virus, including the 42 days before being declared Ebola-free by the World Health Organization.
“The Liberia Incident Management System is decommissioning some of the Ebola treatment units because the government now has the full capacity to isolate any suspected case coming from anywhere in the country,” Nyenswah said.
He clarified that Ebola treatment units built along Liberia borders with Sierra Leone and Guinea will not be decommissioned.
Grand Kru senator and Health and Social Welfare Committee chairman, Peter Coleman, said that, as Ebola is still in Sierra Leone and Guinea, there is a danger that it could resurface in Liberia.
“Liberians need to always be on the alert and behave as if the disease is still in Liberia by continuing the preventive measures,” he said. “People must continue to carry out control measures and keep up the surveillance along the borders between Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.”
He acknowledged efforts by the World Health Organization to ensure that the disease is eradicated from the two countries, given the porous nature of the borders of the three Mano River Countries.
Senate Pro Tem Armah Jallah thanked health workers for their sacrifices during the fight against Ebola and asked them to remain tough in the fight against all dangerous diseases that are a threat to human survival.
Jallah reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to ensuring that health care remains a priority for the government of Liberia.
Zoquay Beysolow contributed to this article.
Featured image courtesy of Zeze Ballah
