HIGHLIGHTS
Despite its Ebola-free status, efforts to maintain momentum in establishing an Ebola buffer system in Guinea Bissau have been particularly affected by the political crisis over the past two weeks.
In the second week, as the political crisis deepened, with the rejection by Parliament of a new Prime Minister appointed by the President, Ebola partners have witnessed a slow-down in activities related to policy making, including the postponement of a weekly Ebola coordination meeting, chaired by the Chief Secretary of the ruling party PAIGC.
In anticipation of a possible paralysis in all government-led activities - after the exoneration by the President of the country’s Prime Minister and his cabinet on 12 August 2015 - the Director of the National Institute of Sanitation (INASA) took the lead in the training of a further two Ebola Rapid Response Teams, also coordinating the management of Ebola stocks and stockpiling of medicines and equipment.
UNICEF activities on Ebola for the past two weeks focused on coordination with government and partners, in particular reconciling stocks held at government storage facilities and soonto-arrive Ebola materials purchased earlier this year.
A mission to the southern Guinea Conakry border at Tombali by Emergency/WASH/C4D teams, showed that two border posts are still closed, with only one functioning officially open border post at Cuntanbane, fully supplied for an Ebola emergency. This has caused considerable disruption to the local economy resulting in new ‘clandestine’ entry points between the two Guineas.