Sierra Leone envoys in Makkah pray for Ebola eradication

RIYADH: Three Sierra Leonean ambassadors are in the Holy City of Makkah praying that the Ebola virus, which has claimed hundreds of lives, is completely wiped out from their country, said an official on Saturday.
“The virus is still present in the two districts of Portloko and Kambia, but the other 10, including Kono, Kenama, Makeni, Bo, Moyamba, are free from it,” M.B. Jalloh, Sierra Leonean Embassy spokesman, said.
Among the envoys who have come to the Grand Mosque to seek God’s intervention are Alhaji Mohammed Sillah Kargbo (Saudi Arabia), Siray Alpha Timbo (UAE) and Mohammed Fofana (Iran), he said.
“The worst is over but Kargbo and the other two ambassadors have gone to Makkah for Allah’s intervention to eliminate Ebola virus in our country,” he said.
“In this connection, we thank the Kingdom, under then the late Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for having extended assistance to us,” Jalloh said.
The Kingdom had earlier donated $35-million technical assistance to four countries which included Sierra Leone. The others are Liberia, Guinea and Mali. Sierra Leone received $6 million from the donation.
Jalloh attributed the Ebola situation stabilization to the political will of Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma, adding that Sierra Leoneans have also abided by the government adviseries and guidelines to avoid contracting the disease or minimizing its effect.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a report saying that there are signs that the incidence of Ebola has leveled off in the West African country, although transmission remains intense.
There have been 207,747 cases since the disease broke out early last year and 8,235 people have died so far, according to WHO.