AYV News, August 30, 2024
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has collaborated with the District Forestry Officer in Kenema to engage the forest edge communities with regards awareness raising on the Mpox virus and how they should be safe at all times.
The DFO, Julius Ngegba Sama maintained that, as their role is to protect and secure the forest reserves in the country as well as its people and inhabitants, they deceived to start an early engagement in having the people understand the destruction that may befall them if they allow these forests are deforested for personal use illegally.
He stated that, they have to be the eyes in protecting these reserves as they are directly enjoying the benefit as well as suffering the problems that may be caused at any point in time.
DFO Sama also revealed that, their engagement was to inform these people about the emergence of the Mpox virus that is visible in other counties currently although Sierra Leone has not recorded a case yet, adding that, for the virus to be visible in the country or not depends may also be dependent on the activities of individuals living in the forest edge communities.
In her statement, Md. Nancy Finda Kamanda one of the foresters explained to early signs and symptoms of the Mpox virus being high fever, headaches and rashes Etc. she called on the community individuals to abstain from eating dead animals found in the forest, hosting unknown strangers and reporting any extreme sick person that exhibits any of the signs and symptoms to the line 117 or the nearest health center for better treatment and care.
Saidu Kallon, spoke on how the people at protect the forest which may attract investors as well as the government in-order for them to have greater development projects that may help them and their children.
He added that, they should be the eyes to protect and not to destroy by not allowing other individuals that are bent on the act of burning charcoal, engaged in illegal minoring, timber logging and more.
Chief Amara Ngombulango, the town chief of Ngegeru village thanked and appreciated the team for the engagement and assured them of working hard in ensure things are done the right way in protecting the forest as well as being on the alert for the Mpox virus.
He called on the government and other partners to come to their aid as they are currently challenged with a Barry, school, health center and other basic amenities.
