Danish PM visits Sierra Leone in solidarity
"Sierra Leone should not be isolated and stigmatized because of the Ebola virus disease," he said.
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (AP) -- Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma applauded the visit of Denmark s prime minister, saying it helped erase any national stigma and isolation associated with Ebola.
Koroma on Monday greeted Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt on Monday at the official residence, State House, in the capital.
"Sierra Leone should not be isolated and stigmatized because of the Ebola virus disease," he said.
The current Ebola outbreak has claimed over 8,000 lives, mostly in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. There have been just over 3,000 deaths in Sierra Leone and the deadly virus continues to spread in the country, as the most recent update shows 20 new Ebola cases in a 24-hour period. Liberia and Guinea have seen their new cases drop dramatically.
The delegation also met with 19 Danish health workers working with the British at the 100-bed Ebola Treatment Unit in Northern Port Loko District and the Danish transport ship that brought 105 vehicles donated to the U.N. s anti-Ebola campaign, according to Ebun Strasser-King, Sierra Leone s deputy minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation.
The Danish prime minister offered her condolences for the loss of lives due to the outbreak. She said that she visited to show that Sierra Leone is not alone in this fight.
Koroma lauded the increased international response to the outbreak. He also said the government needs to ensure that normal hospital activities are resumed because more people are suffering and dying of other diseases because resources have been taken up by the fight against Ebola.
