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.

Report Released: Sierra Leone UK Diaspora Ebola Response Conference London 29 November 2014

On 28.11.2014: I said "Here's hoping we can all come together on this. The epidemic is getting worse. Action needs to be scaled up. http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sierra-leonean-uk-diaspora-ebola-response-taskforce-and-engayde-7702058633"

2/4/2015 Update:

SLUKDERT Report on the 29th November Sierra Leone UK Diaspora Ebola Response Conference London 

Venue: Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Exchange House, Primrose Street, London EC2A 2EG

Click here to download the full SLUKDERT report

Image: Chukwu-Emeka P F Chikezie, SLUKDERT 

Executive Summary: 

" The meeting captured the views of a wide range of groups and allowed organisations to learn about and link up with those pursuing the same or similar aims.
The meeting was attended by many Sierra Leone Diaspora organisations and individuals working to combat Ebola. This report captures most of the deliberations, decisions and instances of cooperation arising from the meeting.

Image: Chukwu-Emeka P F Chikezie, SLUKDERT 

There appeared to be a genuine desire for this to be the first, not a ‘stand-alone’ event and there were encouraging signs of genuine attempts for collaborative working.
Many of the discussions and initiatives indicated a willingness to play a part in assisting in the post-Ebola situation to address many of the shortcomings in the socio-economic fabric exposed by the outbreak.

It was clear that some important organisations (particularly the area/district descendants’ associations) were noticeable by their absence. Steps will be made to reach out to them for any future events as they have a significant role to play. The meeting was able to capture a lot of good contact details and there were clear signs of organisations agreeing to work together in the future.
The taskforce recognized the constraints on a wholly volunteer organisation while committing to continue to facilitate dialogue between organisations, link fundraising efforts and to collaborating with other Diaspora organisations.

 Image: Chukwu-Emeka P F Chikezie, SLUKDERT

Among the priorities identified were:

• Establishing a network of Sierra Leone Diaspora teachers to feed into and collaborate with teachers and institutions in Sierra Leone. This included seeking links with distance learning while the schools lockdown continues
• The mapping exercise described in the report highlighted a desire for better coordination of efforts between the Diaspora and home-based groups
• For the taskforce to set up bespoke seminars/conferences around specific professions to look at how they might contribute to the Ebola and post-Ebola efforts in the country
• For the taskforce to take the lead in reaching out to Diaspora organisations outside the London area
• For the taskforce to continue with its ‘diaspora mapping’ exercise to understand who's doing what, where (and who wants to do what, where) by reaching out to more Sierra Leonean diaspora groups
• For the taskforce to signpost individuals and groups to where there is most need
• Provide vulnerable people in SL information on organisations that cater for their needs

Image: Chukwu-Emeka P F Chikezie, SLUKDERT

BACKGROUND TO THE MEETING

According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 31 December 2014 Situation
Report, there have been 20,206 reported cases of Ebola virus disease and 7,905 reported deaths across all the three worst-affected outbreak countries, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Sierra
Leone accounts for 9,446 reported cases (47% of the three countries’ total). WHO notes that Ebola
Virus Disease “transmission remains intense in Sierra Leone, with 337 confirmed cases reported in
the week to 28 December, 2014 – more than double the number of cases in Guinea and Liberia combined” and is at its most intense in Sierra Leone’s western and northern districts.

As Ebola continued to ravage Sierra Leone, it was clear that, in addition to international efforts to combat the outbreak, there was a significant role and contribution the Sierra Leone Diaspora could make. The Sierra Leone UK Diaspora Ebola Response Taskforce (SLUKDERT) which was formed in response to the outbreak and includes a wide spectrum of Diaspora Sierra Leoneans organised this meeting to facilitate cooperation between UK-based Diaspora organisations in responding to the crisis and working with organisations on the ground. As such, it was good to see the widest possible spectrum of actors represented at the meeting: NGOs, charities, alumni associations, legal, medical and recruitment organisations, were among some of those present. Implications for development were at the forefront of the discussions.

 Image: Chukwu-Emeka P F Chikezie, SLUKDERT

AIMS

a) To foster constructive dialogue and stronger coordination in the Diaspora response to the Ebola crisis
b) To enhance our existing information sharing system relating to Ebola

OBJECTIVES:

a) An opportunity for attendees to share their response to the Ebola crisis
b) To highlight the key activities of the taskforce and its specific operational projects – i.e. the HR roadshow and the shipment of 10 containers
c) For workshops to be action oriented – participants were asked to look at practical inexpensive and simple steps that can be immediately implemented to enhance their response to the Ebola crisis
d) To provide a networking opportunity and to share best practice

DESIRED OUTCOMES

a) Greater understanding of clusters around which Sierra Leonean diasporas in the UK are responding to Ebola crisis
b) At least six areas of discussions, wherein attendees would commit to collaborate around common interest to implement initiatives, share learning, etc.
c) Unity and sense of common purpose is in evidence

In setting the scene, attendees were encouraged to look at how they could contribute by addressing three main aspects of the Diaspora’s reaction: (1) challenges they face as individuals or members of organisations, (2) lessons learned from those challenges and (3) how they could contribute, particularly by collaborating with fellow Sierra Leoneans or friends of Sierra Leone with shared interests. "

SLUKDERT 12 February 2015

Click here to download the full report

Edward Turay  Sierra Leonean High Commissioner to the UK          Image: Chukwu-Emeka P F Chikezie, SLUKDERT

Jane Ellison Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Public Health         Image: Chukwu-Emeka P F Chikezie, SLUKDERT

For full collection of event photos see Facebook: Chukwu-Emeka P F Chikezie,