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Feature: Guinea in race against time to end Ebola

Xinhua, February 25, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Guinean government and its partners who include World Health Organization and Doctors Without Borders are engaged in a race against time to eradicate Ebola virus within the 60 day deadline that comes to an end on March 10, 2015.

To overcome this herculean task, given the persistence of the virus in some parts of Basse Guinea region where control of Ebola patients still remains a problem, mobilization is being done at all levels.

Health personnel, opinion leaders, Muslim as well as Christian religious leaders, without forgetting village committees, are being involved in the fight against the hemorrhagic fever.

The latest statistics released on Feb. 23, 2015 showed that since Jan. 20, there have been only 24 new confirmed cases, with 11 deaths reported across the country.

The overall figure currently stands at 2,758 confirmed cases out of which 1,699 have died.

During this last campaign against Ebola, the national agency charged with the fight against the disease has vowed to defeat the remaining pockets of resistance against anti-Ebola teams.

Resistance is being seen in terms of "unsecured burial of infected bodies, fleeing of those who have had contact with Ebola patients and movement of bodies from one locality to another."

Recently, President Alpha Conde appealed for the involvement of religious leaders and the support of the entire population to eradicate the Ebola virus.

Conde has continued to reiterate that the "government had done a lot of efforts" in the fight against Ebola, and that this final phase was "decisive and required the vigilance of everyone."

Guinea's Pre-university Education Minister Dr. Ibrahima Kourouma has already toured various parts of the country to sensitize learners on the need to avoid false rumours that may de- motivate parents or students from going to school.

Rumours of spraying schools with the Ebola virus broke out a few days ago in the country, resulting in violence in parts of the capital and other parts of the country.

Such incidents always expose Red Cross workers to violence from sections of the Guinean society. Endi