Opposition protests slow down anti-Ebola war in Guinea

Guinea's National Anti-Ebola Agency has expressed concern that last week's protests by the country's opposition could derail efforts to fight against Ebola epidemic which is still prevalent in Guinea.

Guinea's opposition organized protests in Conakry on April 13 and 14 to force the government to satisfactorily address their concerns over the electoral timetable.

The agency said it had become difficult to follow up people who had contact with Ebola patients due to last week's protests.

About 100 people who were under surveillance in Conakry managed to escape, an official source said.

Government Spokesman Albert Damantang Camara said the disorder witnessed in the capital due to the protests had disrupted the implementation of the government's Accelerated Health Emergency Plan which was meant to eradicate the disease.

Speaking from Washington where he had gone for a summer meeting with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank between April 16 to 18, Guinean President Alpha Conde said "it was unfortunate protests were organized during the period of an Ebola epidemic."

"An appeal had been made to everyone that during the health emergency period, there should be no protests or movement of crowds," the president added.

On Monday, a governmental delegation comprised of ministers, visited the home of opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo to reassure him that the government was willing to reopen political dialogue with the opposition.

The anti-Ebola agency and its partners have, however, directed their focus towards Forecariah prefecture, some 100 km from Conakry, for a door-to-door campaign that helped to track down several Ebola patients between April 12 to 15.

According to authorities, two new Ebola cases were reported on Sunday in Forecariah prefecture.

The health authorities plan to carry out a similar campaign in Coyah prefecture, some 50 km from Conakry, where the virus has not been fully defeated.

In Guinea where the Ebola virus has been spreading for over a year, there have been 3,128 confirmed cases out of which 1,939 deaths occurred. Endi