Ebola in Guinea: residents of the Nzérékoré region get used to health barriers
Audio 01:20
With the support of the International Organization for Migration, health barriers have been put in place around Gouecké, the epicenter of the epidemic, and Nzérékoré, the regional capital.
© Carol Valade / RFI
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
A new death linked to Ebola was reported on Saturday, February 27, bringing the number of deaths to 6 out of fifteen confirmed or probable cases already identified.
As soon as the epidemic was declared in the forest region in the south of the country, measures were quickly taken by the authorities to block the spread of the virus.
With the support of the International Organization for Migration, health barriers have been set up around Gouecké, the epicenter of the epidemic, and Nzérékoré, the regional capital.
Reluctant at first, most road users have ended up complying with it.
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With our special correspondent in Nzérékoré,
Carol Valade
A cord stretched across the road, plastic bags tied around it to attract attention ... The sanitary barrier is a compulsory step for travelers, with temperature measurement.
"
We do everything to make them aware, but there are recalcitrant so we have to let them through,
deplores Jean-Claude Haba, technical health officer.
Some say hand washing kits are the source of the disease.
"To these, he generally retorts:"
Knowing your temperature is for yourself.
"
In front of the hand washing kit in the IOM colors, Cécile Loua explains that "
sometimes some refuse, say that they are in good health, that they do not have to wash their hands because they are not not sick.
"
On several occasions, motorists forced the roadblock, taking the cord with them under the helpless gaze of the officers.
But it is increasingly rare, according to them, more than 80% comply with health measures.
“
What you are doing is very, very interesting,”
comments Cécé Gilbert Loua, passenger in a taxi
.
Because it is the protection of men.
Men must be protected.
In life, health first and foremost.
"
In principle, a passenger with a fever should be taken to hospital, but the case has so far never arisen.
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Guinea
Ebola