PRESS RELEASE Nº373/2014

African Union health workers and the Sierra Leonean Ministry of Health and Sanitation Discharge 35 Ebola Survivors  

Bombali, Sierra Leone,: The African Union (AU) together with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation of Sierra Leone discharged 35 Ebola survivors from the Magbenteh Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU) on 20^th December. In a well-attended event that featured traditional leaders, District health leads, the Paramount Chief, the District Mayor and survivors’ family members, survivors were applauded for their bravery at beating the deadly disease. Speakers at the event gave credit to the AU for its brilliant performance in the coordination of the ETU, contributing to the number of Ebola survivors from the Bombali District. 

The survivor discharge was the second of its kind from the Magbenteh ETU that was commissioned on the 16^th of November 2014 and admitted its first of Ebola patients on the 24^th of November 2014. On the 11^th of November, the ETU discharged 24 patients adding up to a total of 64 survivors till date. 

As part of the of the psychosocial support from the Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs (MSWGCA), survivors were presented survivor’s packages and counseled to be ambassadors in their various communities and help in the campaign that Ebola is treatable if cases are reported early enough and people desist from keeping sick persons at home.

The Magbenteh ETU has contributed to the reduction of Ebola death rate in the Bombali District and also increased the confidence of the community in getting treatment. As of 22^nd of December 2014, Sierra Leone has recorded a total of 1326 Ebola survivors according to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.