Yesterday October 19th 2014 marks the 16th anniversary of the death of a dear adopted sister of mine, Kula Samba. I have always believed that she died because she lived in a country of sycophants who kow-towed to the leadership no matter the glaring, dangerous nonsense the leadership might be up to. I use the term leadership from a broad perspective to include all those in leadership positions from professional bodies to artisanal unions to civil society to local governments to MPs to Opposition Leaders up to State House. Kula Samba had to die because nobody was brave enough to say it was wrong. Records showed the only ones to protest the executions were the international community.

Fast forward 16 years and I sometimes wonder what did we really learn from those years especially with all the lessons in the Truth & Reconciliation Commission Report.

Take the ongoing Ebola crisis. For God's sake, how long will citizens continue to unquestionably accept the under-reported nature of the catastrophe unfolding on Sierra Leone? Ebola cannot be fought on a Platform of LIES. Moreover, we are Africans. The spirits of the dead need to be appeased and the minimum we can do is to acknowledge that those who died, have died.

 

Kula Samba

Yesterday's announcement of 973 deaths (30%) out of 3,156 cases when the reality is more like 2,200 deaths (70%) is only being done by Government authorities because of nature of the citizenry. Na how den take we..!

According to latest from Office of the President, the Emergency Operations Center that was leading the fight against the Ebola disease has been replaced by newly formed National Ebola Response Center (NERC) but this NERC has commenced its work by continuing to announce ERRONEOUS DEATHS NUMBER.

Well, Ebola cannot be fought on a Platform of LIES.

Moreover, we are Africans. The spirits of the dead need to be appeased and the minimum we can do is to acknowledge they have died.

If they continue to announce erroneous statistics, this new NERC, like defunct EOC, is going to soon lose confidence of populace. We have to be HONEST & SINCERE in fighting this virus.

Even United Nations WHO is now openly admitting it made gross bungles in managing this crisis. So why is Government of Sierra Leone behaving as if it is inconceivable for them to correct the erroneous numbers? Why are authorities in Sierra Leone continuing to give us under reported deaths numbers? Why?

Our ancestors just will not be happy. We are Africans and Africans respect the dead.

We need to STOP announcing fake deaths numbers. Take a look at latest Announcement.

National Ebola Response Centre (NERC)

EBOLA OUTBREAK UPDATES

October 19, 2014

Cumulative lab confirmed cases = 3,156

Lab-confirmed deaths = 973 (30% death rate)

Total Survived & Released Patients = 634

3,156 minus 973 minus 634 = 1,549 uncategorised

MY ANALYSIS:

According to information available, we have less than 400 beds (Holding & Treatment) which are available nationwide for Ebola patients. Thus, total Ebola Patients that can be said to be currently admitted in Health Facilities = 400 (or less).

Therefore, number of lab-confirmed cases not in health facilities is 1,549 minus 400 which is = 1,149.

Clearly, 1,149 missing patients are DEAD. So correct number of actual deaths is more nearer 2,200 (70%) than the grossly under-reported 973 (30%).

Furthermore, this 2,200 dead number is only for laboratory confirmed cases. Hundreds more persons who died as suspected & probable deaths (before samples got tested) are not included. If we add them to 2,200 dead compatriots, we can begin to understand the horror unfolding even as the NERC Chief Executive Officer, Major (rtd) Palo Conteh steps into shoes of now-defunct EOC. Will Palo Conteh be able to do what Dr. Abubakarr Fofanah failed to do? Or will Palo also treat the citizens with disdain? Time will tell.