Sierra Leone Association of
Journalists
1st Floor, 56 Campbell Street, Freetown, Sierra Leone
P.M.B. 724,
President: +232 76 602825, Secretary-General:+232 76 345930
_______________________________________________________________________
Date: 23rd July, 2014
WEDNESDAY
JULY 23, 2014 –
The Sierra Leone Association
of Journalists (SLAJ) is concerned about the escalating trend of the Ebola
virus in the country.
SLAJ is particularly concerned that the health
workers who are on the frontline are now dying of the very disease they are
trying to contain on our behalf.
Our hearts go out to the families of the
deceased health workers and moreso to those frontline health workers who have
recently been infected as a result of their selfless service to the people of
Sierra Leone.
SLAJ is also aware of the constraints facing
health workers in Ebola infested areas and notes with concern that essential
safety gears are reportedly in short supply. This situation is now spreading
more fear as rumours of health workers threatening to abandon their posts are
rife.
SLAJ hereby calls on the Government of Sierra
Leone to urgently review its strategies in combatting the widespread of the
Ebola virus and the increasing rate of fatalities.
SLAJ urges Government to explore outside help
to contain this situation, especially when very senior medical personnel –
whose expertise our infected compatriots depend on for survival – have been
reported to have contracted the virus in the course of their work.
SLAJ stands ready to give any support required
and calls on all journalists to actively join the fight against the spread of
the Ebola virus.
The executive of SLAJ calls on all journalists
to be circumspect about the information released to the general public, such
that we do not cause unnecessary panic or jeopardise collective efforts to
contain the virus. Please let us control our emotions.
“We have lost one journalist already, let us
fight to save the lives of our compatriots,” said SLAJ President Kelvin Lewis.
Moses A.
Kargbo
National
Secretary General
+232-76-345930
/ +232-77-708839
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