Sierra Leone's president has declared a state of public emergency "to enable the government to take a more robust approach to deal with the ebola disease".

Making the statement on the national radio at midnight Wednesday, President Koroma also ordered that "all epicenters of the disease will be quarantined".

The head of state said the police and the military will give support to health officers and NGOs to do their work "unhindered and restrict movements to and from epicenters".

All public meetings and gatherings have also being restricted to only essential meetings related to Ebola sensitization and education.

The president further asked to cancel all foreign trips by ministers and other government officials except absolutely essential engagements.

He also launched a National Response Plan to inaugurate Phase Two on ebola which will be chaired by himself to champion the implementation of all the issues addressed in the statement.

(Xinhua News Agency July 31, 2014)