Training

WHO joins the government of Sierra Leone in marking the end of the recent flare-up of Ebola virus disease in the country. As of today, 17 March, 42 days have passed, two incubation cycles of the virus, since the last person confirmed to have Ebola virus disease in the country tested negative for a second time.

This latest flare-up of Ebola brings to 3 590 the number of lives lost in Sierra Leone to an epidemic that devastated families and communities across the country and disrupted every aspect of life.

The Ministry of Energy with a Vision to build the capacity of the nation’s young Engineers has funded a comprehensive external training through SALINI for the country’s electro-mechanic engineers in Hydropower operations and maintenance.

Chairing the farewell meeting the Ministry organized for the 9 Hydropower Engineers on Monday 14th March 2016 at the Minister’s office in Freetown, Permanent secretary Zainab Buya-Kamara was quick to caution the trainees that the golden opportunity given to them must be judiciously utilized. She continued that the Engineers would have to write individual reports and certificates will be given based on merit. The blunt Permanent secretary even ended that a clause would be signed between the Ministry and the Engineers for the training and for them to come back and serve the nation for some time.

The epidemic of Ebola virus disease (Ebola) in West Africa began in Guinea in late 2013 (1), and on August 8, 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the epidemic a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (2). Guinea was declared Ebola-free on December 29, 2015, and is under a 90 day period of enhanced surveillance, following 3,351 confirmed and 453 probable cases of Ebola and 2,536 deaths (3). Passive surveillance for Ebola in Guinea has been conducted principally through the use of a telephone alert system.