Sierra Leone Buries Ebola Doctor

Posted on: Sat 02-08-2014

Sierra Leone buries 'hero' doctor who saved over 100 Ebola patients, but died of disease

Sheik Umar Khan, head doctor fighting the deadly tropical virus Ebola in Sierra Leone, poses for a picture in Freetown on June 25, 2014. Sierra Leone on Thursday,

KENEMA, Sierra Leone (AFP) - Sierra Leone on Thursday buried a doctor it hailed as a "national hero" for saving the lives of more than 100 Ebola patients before succumbing himself to the killer tropical disease.

Dr Umar Khan, 43, the west African nation's sole virologist, was at the forefront of his country's fight against the epidemic, which has seen more than 700 deaths in Sierra Leone and its west African neighbours.

He was laid to rest in the eastern town of Kenema, where he had spent much of his working life, in a Muslim ceremony attended by family, friends, local dignitaries, aid workers and health officials.

"He was committed and dedicated in the quest to save the lives of his compatriots," Health Minister Miatta Kargbo told the mourners. "For the short time we interacted, he constantly described Ebola as a war that all Sierra Leoneans should join to fight against or otherwise it would be devastating."

ABUJA: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED PORTHARCOURT: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED LAGOS: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED