Govt, FAM contradict on Ebola

Contradictions have arisen on the progress of the precautions taken in the wake of the deadly Ebola outbreak ahead of the Flames trip to Mali early next month for the Group B 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

While Football Association of Malawi (FAM) chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda yesterday claimed to have written the Ministry of Health through the Sports Ministry for advice on the issue, Ministry of Sports Principal Secretary Justin Saidi said FAM’s letter was written straight to their health counterparts.

Nyirenda said: “We wrote the letter [to the Ministry of Health] through our line ministry two weeks ago and we are waiting for their response.”

But Saidi said: “FAM wrote the letter straight to the Ministry of Health, they did not go through us.”

Ministry of Health spokesperson Henry Chimbali said neither the Sports Ministry nor FAM have sought their opinion or their advice yet.

“However, we are willing to provide and drill them with information and skills on infection prevention when they get to Mali.

“We cannot stop them from going to Mali but they need to exercise great caution and follow infection prevention procedures which are very paramount,” said Chimbali.