Photo: Manoocher Deghati/IRIN

Mothers in a waiting room at a clinic near Freetown.

The Health for all Coalition (HFAC) has recommended that more cholera treatment centers be established across the country by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and its partners to combat the recent outbreak of the disease.

In a press release issued yesterday, HFAC voiced its concern at the recent outbreak of the deadly cholera disease, its continuous spread in Sierra Leone and worried by the reported increase in the loss of lives as a result of the disease.

"Amidst the damages caused by cholera, HFAC has observed as follows: that slumps and overpopulated areas in the city of Freetown are totally dirty, complete absence adherence to proper hygiene and sanitation practices and facilities; Freetown city is completely filthy with most houses/homes without toilet facilities; food and other consumables openly sold on the streets and market places by traders closer to filth drainages and mountains of garbage; unregulated production and sales of water to the public by some unregistered and unhygienic water packaging business entities; children are allowed by some parents and guardians to play in dirty street waters," the release stated.

The coalition also recommended that the Guma Valley Water Company, ministries of health and sanitation and trade and industry collaborate to monitor the production and sales of unsafe drinking water to the public by numerous water companies and that sales of food items in unhygienic environment be banned. The group also stated that any health worker/official found selling cholera treatment drugs and materials be punished according to the law and that the government should truly and frankly discuss and address the issue of slum communities and the safety of the inhabitants without fear or favour.

"We wish to commend officials of the health ministry, World Health Organization, UNICEF and other partners for their efforts in controlling the spread of the disease in the country. The fight against cholera must be intensified. We therefore call on all and sundry to join hands with MoHS, partners and HFAC to rid our country of cholera and other deadly diseases," the release concluded.