UN
New Ebola Transit Centre Opens Amid Rise In Cases In Western Guinea
A rise in new confirmed Ebola cases in Boké prefecture in Western Guinea has seen response partners step up efforts to contain the virus in that region.
In Kamsar, an important mining town in Boké, a new Transit Centre for suspected Ebola patients was opened this week. The UNICEF-backed centre will support the laboratory in Kamsar to ensure that people who are suspected of having Ebola are safely housed until their test results are recorded.
“Right now, the Ebola response is heavily focused on this Western area of Guinea, where community resistance has made it more difficult to bring down the case numbers,” says Peter Graaff, Special Representative and Acting Head of the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER). “Especially being so close to the border with Guinea-Bissau, we need to concentrate all of our efforts on making sure that the virus is contained, and this new transit centre will help us achieve that objective.”
Despite not being fully finished, the transit centre is already operational and awaiting its first patients. It is being led by Dr Dimai Ouo Kpamy, who previously led similar operations in Macenta and Siguiri, in Eastern Guinea.
Sixteen cases were reported from five western prefectures in Guinea in the week to 7 June, including Boké, making it the fourth consecutive week that at least one case has been reported in that préfecture. According to the UNMEER Field Crisis Manager there, Julien Djidonou, there are, as of 10 June, 184 contacts being monitored, but continued resistance against Ebola response workers is making their work more difficult.
“The centre has just been constructed, so it’s difficult to measure up to now the reaction of the people,” says Djidonou. “But in general, it should be noted that Boké, in particular Kamsar, where the centre has been built, is an area of resistance. In the last few days, we have faced violent demonstrations.”
“This new transit centre is a step in the right direction,” says Graaff, “but if there was ever any doubt that we require continued vigilance in the affected countries, continued leadership from the governments, and the continued support of the international community, there shouldn’t be now.”
Graaff will be in Guinea this week visiting some of the most affected parts of the country and meeting with partners to ensure the response is on track towards reaching zero cases.
