As at 23 March, there is no known case of COVID19 infection in Sierra Leone, but this is unlikely to remain so as all other countries in the MRU basin (Liberia, Ivory Coast, and Guinea) and most member states from ECOWAS have reported positive cases, mostly arriving travellers. Notwithstanding local challenges and limitations, the pre-emptive […]
Response to COVID 19 Pt 2
Still intrigued by the response of the West to COVID 19 as compared to China. Would love to get help in answering the following:1. China with a population of 1.32 billion, and was the guinea pig for the virus, has reported under 3,500 deaths so far. The US has a population of 350 million but […]
FALAMAKATA
Lockdowns will not halt the transmission as long as there are carriers who do not show any symptom but who continue to spread the virus. Other measures such as prohibiting mass gatherings of more than 10 persons are far more effective in a low income country where the average household numbers more than 15 in urban areas. Members of large households are usually together only at night/bedtime. A lockdown forcing them to be together for 14 or 28 days is far more likely to accelerate transmission within the household and thus produce a cumulative effect worse than controlling the congregation of people.
Ebola’s Lessons
This Foreign Affairs article from Laurie Garrett on how Ebola journeyed through West Africa focuses on Liberia and is a good read. Striking though, is the revelation that the epidemic was on the decline by the time the American troops arrived. This is hardly publicized by the media, depriving the Liberians and their partners of […]
Policy dilemmas and alternatives in a post-Ebola Economy
Sierra Leone’s economic performance in the three years preceding the Ebola outbreak was impressive. The decline in iron ore prices occurred at the same time and wreaked further havoc to the economy. Paradoxically, some of the consequences were off-set by the Ebola dividend—budget support, limited debt relief, and more aid from donors including the IMF, […]
The Ugly, the Bad, and the Good of Ebola
After the misery, suffering and desolation caused by the Epidemic, the bad is slowly revealing itself and finally for Ebola, some Good seems to have been lurking among it all. There is enough written and still pouring in about the Ugly part of the Ebola epidemic. Sadly, in addition to the human misery of over […]