By Alfred Sam Foray, USA.
The tiny town of Moyamba Junction (part of which is shown in photo) about 100 miles from Freetown and 60 miles from Bo, where I spent a few months doing business during my recent visit to Sierra Leone is on the verge of total annihilation from the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone. We are told by a resident of the town that about two weeks ago a resident physician, one Dr. Blango, who runs a private hospital in the town, recently treated an Ebola patient. Shortly afterwards, Dr. Blango contracted Ebola and died.
And now for the really bad news. In a scene that could have come from an Alfred Hitchcock horror movie, the doctor’s wife unconvinced that her husband had died from Ebola kept the doctor’s corpse in their house for five days. During that time many of the prominent people in town including the Town Chief who is also the District Councilor for the area, visited Mrs. Blango, who refused to remove the body from the house and complained to her relatives abroad about harassment from the authorities.
Eventually, after confirming that Blango had indeed died from Ebola, Mrs. Blango was forced to bury her husband but not before apparently infecting many of the town’s residents. So far 14 people are reported dead and several townspeople are reportedly sick from the Ebola virus emanating from Dr. Blango’s death and his wife’s bizarre decision to keep the corpse. She is now in police custody for her own protection from angry residents of the town.
A bit about Dr. Blango. Many Sierra Leoneans may recall Dr. Blango’s son, Columba Blango, a men’s Decathlon finalist in the famous Sierra Leone contingent at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, which included boxer, Mohamed Bangura, and sprinter, Eugenia Osho-Williams. Columba was also a former Lord Mayor of Southwark, London, and two-time candidate for the British Parliament for the Liberal Democrats. He was also a major force in the People’s Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) of Charles Francis Margai during the 2007 parliamentary and presidential elections in Sierra Leone before declaring later for the Sierra Leone Peoples Party. The elder Dr. Blango was a very pleasant man. He and I chatted together several times about politics and family during my visit to Moyamba Juntion.
Moyamba Junction is in the Fakunya Chiefdom, Moyamba District and a major crossroads from Freetown to Bo and the mining area of Rutile. It is also a major transition point for vehicles moving north to London Mining and African Minerals and on to Guinea. As such, Moyamba Junction, despite its size, is a major strategic location for commerce and transport in the country. Over the past few days, government has placed a 21-day lockdown on the town. No vehicles are permitted to stop in the usually busy market town famous for its goat soup and cookery shops since the 1980s.
The nearby town of Mile 91, eleven miles away and other nearby towns are also on a 21-day lock down.
Comments on the Ebola outbreak at Moyamba Junction by Dr. Bob Kandeh, Chairman of the Moyamba District Council. Posted on Leonenet (UMBC) forum.
Alert about Moyamba Junction raised about three days ago during the Moyamba District Ebola Emergency meeting. Report sent by Town Chief that Pa Blango’s death may have been ebola related. He was buried without medical clearance as ordered by HE President for all corpses.
Spouse after initial denial called DMO at night that 3 persons were sick in her household.
6 specimens were collected and 6 specimens from the Blango household confirmed positive. 9 more collected the next day the other 9 specimens were confirmed positive the next day. Up to that time there were 5 deaths.
The District Officer and myself led a response team to Moyamba Junction and met with the Town Chief, Section Chief, OC, CHO and youths.
Main market closed immediately.
20 households have been quarantined up to this morning (Sunday) and provided with food (Rice etc). The plan is to quarantine entire town on Monday at the end of the lockdown tonight (Sunday). Cases popping up randomly in town. there are 430 + households in the town. food supplies have been prepositioned. Troops to be deployed this afternoon to enforce the quarantine and ensure vehicles do not stop in Moyamba Junction.
Moyamba DEOC personnel spent whole of yesterday (Saturday) following up with contact tracing, case management and supply of rations to get some control of the situation.
All confirmed cases at the holding centre transferred to Bo and kenema treatment centres. 2 died on the way.
Holding centre in Moyamba town filled to brim (including Mrs Blango and 2 children). additional bed space being provided so up to 30 persons can be accommodated by end today.
Youths have been very vigilant ensuring all households are checked for sick persons and providing names for follow up.
The quarantine has been extended to moyamba town for prominent people who attended the funeral. also a person who helped wash the body of Pa Blango only confessed in dying hours when he was now manifesting symptoms and signs. An additional 15 households quarantined in Moyamba town.
Rotifunk-Mabang axis also worrisome as people escape from "Monkey Bush" in Western Rural to Moyamba. Two sets of troops to be deployed tomorrow (Monday) at Mabang and Ferry.
Will provide more details tomorrow (Monday) after the wrap up meeting for ose to ose in Moyamba District.
Here is a short video clip on Moyamba Junction before the Ebola outbreak.
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