Sierra Leone's frontline aid workers count down to Ebola-free declaration

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Industries | Fri Nov 6, 2015 7:34am EST Related: HEALTHCARE

Sierra Leone's frontline aid workers count down to Ebola-free declaration

BY KIERAN GUILBERT

Sierra Leone is set to be declared Ebola-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday, when the west African nation will have gone 42 days without any new cases.
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Ahead of the Ebola-free declaration in Sierra Leone, frontline aid workers share their thoughts.

Ngozi Kennedy is a health specialist at the U.N. children's agency (UNICEF)

The last week of this countdown was really a mix of joy and anxiety because as you get closer you're so hopeful, but with active cases in Guinea you still have a kind of fear: what if so close to the end there's suddenly a case?

It's a long awaited declaration. It will be a crazy day. Sierra Leoneans are fun-loving people. People will go out, and enjoy themselves.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/06/leone-ebola-aidworkers-idUSL8N13129C20151106

 

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Ebola outbreak: WHO 'delayed Sierra Leone state of emergency'
3 hours ago

The World Health Organization (WHO) delayed Sierra Leone from declaring a state of emergency and restricting movement during the Ebola outbreak, the country's president has told the BBC.

President Ernest Bai Koroma said he had had "conflicts" with WHO advisers.
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Mr Koroma was discussing his frustrations hours before Sierra Leone was due to be declared free of Ebola.

He said it was the end of a "difficult and turbulent journey".
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The president said in the event of another outbreak, he would introduce counter-measures far sooner.
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http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-34749013