Gov’t seeks local cooperation Ebola fight

The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Internal Affairs is calling on all county authorities to cooperate and collaborate fully with county health officers across the country in ongoing efforts to eradicate the deadly Ebola virus from Liberia.

The government emphasized that Ebola is a major threat to public health and called on superintendents, city mayors, paramount and clan chiefs, general town chiefs, traditional and religious leaders, and communities throughout the country to support sensitization efforts by the Ministry of Health and partners.

In a press release issued in Monrovia over the weekend, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said there are residents in some communities, family and group members who are resisting authorized Ministry of Health personnel sent to handle and bury deceased victims or to remove people that believed to be suffering from the disease in treatment units away from general population.

The release said in some communities, residents are also resisting health officers who go out to fumigate or spray areas where victims of the virus had lived, noting that such action interferes with efforts to combat the virus, and violates the public health laws of Liberia as well as undermines Government’s efforts to eradicate the disease.

The ministry further warns that only authorized health personnel are allowed to handle and bury people who die from Ebola, adding that all communities throughout Liberia are hereby strongly advised against burying Ebola victims.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and social Welfare urge the general public to report to health officers any unexplained deaths in the community or report to the police or community leaders anyone hiding people believed to be suffering from Ebola or victims of the disease.