Sakoba KEITA: “When I contracted the Coronavirus, I…”

Having recovered from Coronavirus on May 2, the director general of the national health security agency (ANSS) looks back on these painful moments. Doctor Sakoba KEITA describes his motivations for revealing his status to the Guinean press.

In his fight against the Coronavirus pandemic, the director general of the national health security agency is one of the actors most exposed to the pandemic. Although he fought without being infected by Ebola, Doctor Sakoba KEITA did not escape Covid-19. He tested positive last April. The number one in the fight against the pandemic in Guinea talks about how he experienced the beginning with the Coronavirus. “When I contracted the disease, some ANSS agents told me to confine myself to my home and follow treatment at home. That there was no point in communicating my status to the press. But I said no, we have to make it public so that the media don't make suspicions." testifies the director general of the ANSS.

Revealing the identity of people affected by Coronavirus sparks debate in Guinea, for fear of being marginalized by those around them after recovery, some wish to keep their status secret. And others talk about what we call medical confidentiality. Except that this hypothesis is not well understood when it comes to public figures. This is why the head of the ANSS wanted to make his status public as soon as he learned who had Covid-19.

Above all, set a good example to minimize risks and avoid creating psychosis within the population. In any case, this is the lesson to be learned from this testimony from Sakoba KEITA. “I appear on TV all the time, I speak on the radio, if I go several days without speaking in the media, everyone will ask questions. I said straight away we must inform the media to avoid rumours. he says.

Declared cured last May, Dr Sakoba KEITA is committed as always at the head of the ANSS to the forefront in the fight against Covid-19 in Guinea.

Mamadou Kindy BAH