Sierra Leone complies with Ebola lockdown

Nurses during training to use Ebola protective gear by the World Health Organisation in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Photo: Michael Duff

Nurses during training to use Ebola protective gear by the World Health Organisation in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Photo: Michael Duff

Published Sep 20, 2014

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Freetown , Sierra Leone - Officials say thousands of health care workers successfully fanned out across Sierra Leone on the first day of an unprecedented three-day anti-Ebola lockdown despite some logistical blunders.

Stephen Gauja, coordinator of an emergency operations centre in the capital, said on Saturday that no violence occurred and that residents were “largely compliant” with health care workers and volunteers who distributed soap and information about the deadly disease.

The government is confining its 6 million people to their homes through Sunday in a bid to stem the biggest Ebola outbreak in history.

The World Health Organisation says Sierra Leone has recorded more than 560 deaths. There have been more than 2 600 deaths across West Africa.

Several health care workers complained that supply kits were delivered late, preventing their teams from starting on time. - Sapa-AP

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