What measure is the government taking to prevent patients from leaving clinics?

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Sierra Leone deploys troops to Ebola clinics to enforce patient isolation

The government of Sierra Leone has deployed hundreds of troops to Ebola clinics to enforce the isolation of patients. This measure aims to prevent relatives and friends from forcefully removing patients from medical care without consent, thereby curbing disease transmission and facilitating contact tracing. The deployment comes as Sierra Leone grapples with the highest number of Ebola cases in West Africa.
Military presence at Ebola treatment centres

Hundreds of soldiers have been stationed at Ebola clinics across Sierra Leone to ensure that patients remain in isolation. A presidential aide confirmed that the troops are tasked with deterring individuals from forcibly removing suspected or confirmed Ebola patients from hospitals. This action is a direct response to incidents where relatives have discharged contagious patients, taking them back to their communities.
Rationale for troop deployment

The primary objective behind deploying military personnel is to prevent the further spread of the Ebola virus. When patients are forcibly removed from medical facilities, it significantly complicates efforts to trace their contacts and contain outbreaks. This also poses a risk of transmission to a wider population within villages and towns, as highlighted by medical professionals.
Context of the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone has recorded 646 cases and 273 deaths due to the Ebola virus, representing the highest toll among West African nations affected by the current outbreak. The effectiveness of containment strategies has been challenged by the practice of removing patients from treatment centres. The deployment of troops is intended to reinforce the necessary medical protocols for managing the highly contagious disease.

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What measure is the government taking to prevent patients from leaving clinics?

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