International sight loss charity Vision Aid Overseas (VAO) has suspended its operations in Sierra Leone as a result of the ebola virus outbreak in west Africa.
VAO development director Jeremy Jalie said the organisation’s base in the eastern province, the Kenema Regional Hospital, was one of the main locations where people had been treated. It was unclear when the vision centre would reopen.
No formal crisis strategy had been put in place, but the organisation said immediate steps had been taken to keep its colleagues safe. The organisation’s only employee in Sierra Leone has moved to Freetown, some distance away from the affected area. A small team of eye care workers employed by the hospital has also been relocated. A volunteer team visit scheduled for September has been postponed.
‘We get regular updates from our programme manager and will be continuing to monitor everything very closely,’ said Jalie.
