Community infections could happen any time': Sierra Leone as prepares for Covid-19

With 6 confirmed

Cases so far in Sierra Leone, Covid-19 is slowly spreading with the city of Freetown and its surroundings.

The worry now is about if and when the virus spreads to where limited access to sanitation and healthcare services mean infectious disease is already a huge problem.

Sierra Leone have only recently received Covid-19 test kits from the Chinese and testing started last week and cases are being confirmed especially with individuals in the frontline; that is health care workers. With people travelling from the city to rural areas, most times by congested public transport, “community infections could happen any time”, citizens worry.

Given that thorough hand washing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the disease associated with corona virus, health workers and the ministry of health and sanitation are emphasising the importance of personal hygiene and limiting large crowds gatherings.

This is very important because the culture in Sierra Leone is very sociable. People greet each other with handshakes and hugs and spend much of their time in groups for meals, shopping, ceremonies and worship.

The government of Sierra Leone announced restrictive measures in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus, including school closures, bans on entry for foreign nationals, and instructions for anyone who has travelled internationally in the previous 14 days to self-quarantine. A three day quarantine 'Lock down' has been observed which ended on April 8th.

The Problems

In Sierra Leone approximately a household has 4 to 8 inhabitants, making it difficult for people to have their own separate rooms and toilets and equipment and utensils even water for basic hygiene or to drink.” she said. “But the community and government should have a plan to support people who have these kind of symptoms, and have their own arrangement for isolation.