By Paul Lamin in Kenema
The Social Mobilization Manager for the Kenema District COVID-19 Emergency Response Center (DICOVERC), Ansumana Benson Quee, has revealed to this medium that Kenema District has gone over seventy days without a single case of Corona Virus.
He said this came as a result of the robust sensitisation mounted by the entire district emergency response team, headed by the Social Mobilization Pillar and the information wing of the response.
Ansumana Benson Quee stated that few weeks back the Kenema District Artists Union, in partnership with Ark Man and other notable musical artists, in the country, stormed the streets of Kenema with Corona prevention songs (messages) to raise awareness about the reality of the disease.
He said, among other activities, the Social Mobilization Pillar has been conducting Chiefdom sensitisation meetings/tours, especially at chiefdom headquarters towns, including Blama, Boajibu, Panguma, Pandebu Dama, Bandawoh and other major towns across the District.
He said, even though the Government has lifted the night curfew, they will continue to monitor the progress until Corona finally disappears. He urged the people of the district to continue using their facemasks as Corona is still hovering around.
He said, since late august this year, Kenema District has not recorded any Corona case, a situation he described as welcoming news for the people of Kenema.
Talking about the Rationalisation Process, the Social Mobilization Manager said the National COVID-19 Emergency Response Center (NACOVERC) has downsized forty percent (40%) of the work force in every district because of the downward trend of the disease. He entreated those laid off to be patient as there are other job opportunities ahead of them.
Ansumana Benson Quee advised Sierra Leoneans, generally, not to be complacent as the festive period is just round the corner, where a lot of our brothers and sisters would be entering the country probably from worst affected countries.
Mohamed Dakona, Head of Media and Public Relations, described the Rationalisation process as a critical analysis of the prevailing situation around the Corona virus response. He said a thorough analysis of the response has led to the reduction of the workforce around the COVID-19 response.
He urged people to continue passing on the correct information about the pandemic, as there were a lot of exploitative information at the beginning of the fight.