Sierra Leone’s last known Ebola patient has been released from
hospital, raising hopes the west African nation may finally have beaten
the devastating epidemic.
President Ernest Bai Koroma hailed “the beginning of the end of Ebola
in Sierra Leone” pn Tuesday as Adama Sankoh, 34, was released from
hospital in Makeni, the country’s third-largest city, in a festive
ceremony.
“The Ebola fight is not yet over – go and tell members of your
community that,” the president said when presenting the certificate to
the woman. “Go back to your community and continue to live life as you
used to.”
Sankoh, whose 23-year-old son contracted Ebola in the capital,
Freetown, before traveling to his home village, thanked everyone who
provided her with care during her illness.
She also vowed to be the last person infected in Sierra Leone with the virus.
“Although my child died of Ebola I am very happy that I have survived
today,” she said, upon leaving the Ebola treatment centre in Mateneh
village, on the outskirts of Makeni, the president’s hometown.
Sankoh said she would “from now on be the number one messenger to
sensitise people that although Ebola is on the run, vigilance should be
the watchword”.
The release of the cured patient was celebrated by crowds dancing in
the streets, beating drums, cars honking their horns and radio and
television stations playing the national anthem.
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