Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma has announced a major shake-up of the body in charge of fighting the Ebola outbreak in the country.
He said his defence minister would head a new national response centre and report directly to him. The previous team was headed by the health minister.
Mr Koroma said people were dying and quick decisions had to be taken.
The latest Ebola outbreak has killed about 1,200 people in Sierra Leone, and more than 4,500 across West Africa.
In the worst-affected countries – Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone – 9,191 people have been found to have the virus, which kills 70% of those infected, according to the latest WHO figures.
Mr Koroma’s office said Sierra Leone’s new National Ebola Response Centre was replacing the previous body – the National Operations Centre – “with immediate effect”.
The statement said the new centre would be headed by Defence Minister Paolo Conteh, and would have full powers to combat the disease and ensure a more effective use of aid.
