Human Rights in Sierra Leone February 2015

I have been asked about the Kono arrests recently and in particular the continuing detention of at least two Kono women since the first round of arrests took place.

Such activities have been called into question by various agencies as far back as the 19th November legal seminar in London: “Human Rights During Ebola”.  Numerous human rights issues were raised as can be seen in my blog at http://sahrfasuluku.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/yesterday-i-went-to-human-rights-during.html . These need to be openly discussed, and addressed in favour of local communities. Thomas Jefferson in his famous quote warned that people should not be afraid of their government.

One of the most significant questions of 2014-2015, which was raised at the above seminar and will resonate for years to come until it is finally and satisfactorily addressed is: “WHETHER THE LAWYERS AND JUDICIARY OF SIERRA LEONE WERE CARRYING OUT THEIR PRIMARY ROLE  AS PROTECTORS OF THE CONSTITUTION, THE LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS?”

Needless to say this question must also be urgently extended to PARLIAMENT. Have Parliament and the Judiciary both challenged and insisted at every stage that the executive show to a very high standard that what it was doing was necessary, that its actions were the least restrictive and that there were no less restrictive alternatives that could have been equally effective in allowing them to reach their legitimate aims?  Did Parliament and the Judiciary challenge the government to disprove claims that they were encroaching on rights more than necessary to achieve their legitimate aims?

Re current detainees and arrest lists: Can anyone provide an accurate update of the names of those arrested, when, those still detained, the conditions  of their detention and names on arrest lists?

Part 3 - Kayima Gravity Fed Water Supply Dam Excavation and Repair February 2014 - (DRAFT)

Summary: Project to mobilise local authorities and whole community of Kayima, Sandoh Chiefdom. Kono District, Sierra Leone, to repair and renovate Kayima gravity-fed water supply dam to correct heavily polluted water being drunk by towns people, reduce water borne disease, reduce annual soil incursion and increase water resilience through the dry season.

Click on a picture to see it full size

Section Chief - Yawantanda Section, Sandoh

Section Chief - Yawantanda Section, Sandoh

 http://uk.linkedin.com/in/sofasuluku/ 

Sierra Leone chiefdom and section ebola capacity in Kono and PPE prices

Re: Capacity and chiefdom by chiefdom information

I've been in touch with outreach community sensitisation workers in two chiefdoms, Lei and Sandoh, who report very low anti-ebola health capacity. They will get back to me with details. I have asked for them and their colleagues stationed in other chiefdoms by Arrested Development to provide the following capacity information for each section of the chiefdoms they are stationed in:

The health staff capacity for each section.
Also each section of each chiefdom's capability in the following for ebola:
1)  triage,
2) isolation,
3) taking blood, protected by 4) PPE
5) oral rehydration
6) intravenous rehydration
7) paracetamol
8) decontamination
9) safe transport to Koidu with PPE
10) safe burial teams using
11) double sealed body bags
12) full community sensitisation and community have adjusted habits to avoid infection.
any other indicators of capacity

If you all can communicate with your contacts for the above information and feed this back regularly we can build up an accurate independent picture of the actualities on the ground. This will help us all in our campaign and lobbying efforts wherever we are. And will help us all to direct our efforts where they are needed the most.

Re: PPE

I thought since our government and NGO's still have not equipped every PHC unit and every nurse and burial team in all sections of all chiefdoms, perhaps we could launch an appeal, purchase and send our own by airfrieght. I believe the NGO's are about to take care of Koidu so I had the idea we could perhaps concentrate on rural areas which they tend to neglect.

I also wanted to find out if what I have been hearing from various sources; ie that there is a world shortage of PPE equipment, is true. If it is not we could lobby for all PHC units and burial teams to be supplied.

I decided to investigate online and also called a couple of companies.

The kits I found include the following WITHOUT plastic apron or heavy gloves, and are supposed to be disposable.
1 x CE Category 3, Types 3, 4, 5 & 6 disposable coverall
1 x FFP3 face mask
1 x set of goggles
4 x lightweight nitrile gloves (2 pairs for double layer system)
1 x pair overshoes
1 x clinical waste disposal bag
2 x hand wipes
1 x illustrated instructions

My first findng was the prices I've been receiving for full kits seem to be very high.

Smartway Pharmaceuticals list price was £49.95 inc vat. After speaking to them they were able to offer for £35 ex vat with overseas invoice address, but only had 5 in stock, their soonest availablity for any more was the end of January 2015.

GV Health seemed to be a more professional organisation who may be supplying NHS. The identical kit was quoted to me for £83.30 ex vat per box of 5 kits which is £16.66 per kit for 10 to 20 boxes (ie 50 to 100 kits). For higher quantities the prices could be negotiated further.  Their delivery date if ordered now was the first week in January (ie 2-3weeks) , because it seems they actually compile the separate components to make up the kits. GV Health also do kits for safe cleaning of bodily fluid spills. http://www.gvhealth.com/infection-control/ppe-kits.html

I feel with further investigations by our members and appeals to the NHS we could get hold of these kits cheaper or for nothing. Our selling point is we can ensure direct delivery to PHC's in every section of Kono  to ensure they are equipped, then all they will need is training in use and infection prevention protocols.  I believe the NGO's are already in the best position to do healthcare worker training which is ongoing , so the weak link is PPE availability (we should also approach SLUKDERT formally and request from their 10 containers).

Launching an appeal where someone knows that every penny they give will go to buy a tangible beneficial object like a PPE kit is a potentially very popular strategy, everybody everywhere is already sold on the urgent need for PPE, and everyone likes to know what exactly their money is spent on and where exactly it is going. We can do that, point to each geographical region of Kono and assure direct delivery. What makes it even more popular is we can now give people a cost figure and tell them that each one costs £16.66 (or maybe less if everyone conducts their own investigations and gets back to us).

We're very close to Christmas, although its been cancelled in Sierra Leone, what better appeal than to ask everyone to buy one less present and instead buy a ppe kit, which will be delivered to village PHC's to prepare them and help save healthcare workers lives?

Please feed back your findings, both on chiefdoms status on the above points and on your PPE investigations.