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Chief Kebombor sends the following message:
Dear Carolyn, Saidu and Friends,
Thanks so much for the care and concern shown to us during
this difficult time. The current Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak has
multitude of impacts on the livelihoods of our people of Paki-Masabong
chiefdom, our agricultural production and our food security drive. Our farmers'
income from agriculture has dropped. Due to transport restrictions and the
closure of our weekly markets, they struggle to sell their produce. Similarly,
household incomes from other sources such as petty trading and service delivery
have decreased. This is attributed to the strict regulations imposed by government
in a bid to contain the rapid spread of the EVD in Sierra Leone coupled with
the sudden death of family members, the unavailability of farm inputs as well
as the lack of labor.
As trends indicate, the situation is likely to worsen in the
course of the next months. We expect serious food shortages to hit the
chiefdom. So many farmers are not able to harvest their products because of
they are on quarantined status. Weekly markets for our rural farmers have shown
to have an enormous socio-economic relevance in our chiefdom. They drive
economic development and supply the needs of our communities who cannot fully
self-sustain themselves. Should the restrictions remain in place food will
become increasingly scarce and expensive. The incomes of our communities will continue
to drop, harvests continue to fall and the people affected by the EVD continue to
suffer from a low availability of and a limited access to food.
This Ebola outbreak also has a significant impact on the well-being of those affected within our chiefdom, our families, community members
and the health workers treating people with Ebola. Our communities are severely
affected by Ebola disease in many ways. People are now separated from their
loved ones, due to illness or death. Those associated with Ebola are vulnerable to social stigma,
worsening their distress and isolation. Ultimately, whole communities now
experience the fear and suffering the disease outbreak has caused. Although
these events affect everyone in some way, people in the chiefdom now experience
a wide range of reactions. They feel overwhelmed, confused or very uncertain
about what is happening. They feel fearful and anxious, or numb and detached.
Some people have mild reactions, whereas others may have more severe reactions.
It is also important to remember that Ebola has influenced how we normally
provide support to each other (e.g., by not being able to touch people) and how
we cope with the death of our loved ones (e.g., by not being able to engage in
traditional burials). This has severely worsened our people’s distress.
Denial is prevalent on the fight against Ebola. Denial is
still strong in our communities. Sometimes denial is as a result of the fact
that the disease itself strongly challenges our treasured values of respect for
the dead, solidarity, handshake and hospitality. Most importantly, denial is as
a result of levels of illiteracy. One off sensitization is never enough. Daily
and continues reminders of the disease to illiterate or semi-literate rural
community people is the only way. Also the much public education campaign with
aim to reduce the chain of transmission and levels of denial even amongst
educated folks is equally a huge challenge as the disease has much misconceptions
and cynical theories eve amongst elites.
Finally, quarantined homes within our chiefdom are facing
direct problems of food shortages and better hygiene. Government and WFP are
doing their bits but never enough. So therefore our quarantined homes need support
in rice, and other cooking ingredients, soap for regular washing of hands,
chlorine and any other assorted items that could help reduce psychosocial
trauma for the affected homes quarantined within the chiefdom.
Once again, I thank you on behalf of the chiefdom for all
that you have done and continue to do for us. Attached to this is list of some
of the key items needed to support quarantine homes within the chiefdom.
Sincerely yours,
Paramount Chief Kebombor ll
Paki-Masabong Chiefdom
Items needed to support
quarantined homes in our chiefdom
1 Gloves
2 Infrared thermometers
3 Rice
4 Cooking oil
5 Other cooking ingredients (Maggie, onions, salt etc.)
6 Flashlights and batteries
8 Cooking charcoal
9 Sugar
10 Soap
11 Chlorine
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