EBOPHOBIA: THE EBOLA FRIGHT

I've heard some people say ‘the fear of Ebola is the beginning of wisdom’. As ridiculous as it sounds I think it has sunk deep into the hearts of so many Nigerians. Just yesterday in church, a young lady who sat beside me refused to shake hands with an old woman who was sitting in front of us. Some minutes later the young lady was going to shake another young lady and the old woman intercepted the other lady’s hand and asked her not to shake hands with the lady who had refused to shake hands with her earlier. It wasn't funny because I could see and feel the stigma all over the poor old woman all through the remaining part of the service.

I found it very difficult to comprehend and accept the ladies action as I had already shaken both the lady and the old woman. I always sit in that part of church and I've always seen both women. Although the old woman acts kinda weird but she has always been like that and I'm quite sure the young lady knows that. At the end of the day it’s none of my business so I’ll just let it go….

Since news of the Liberian, Mr Sawyer, who died in a Lagos hospital after he was found to have flown in from Liberia with the dreaded Ebola virus broke, there have been calls from several health organisations on the need for citizens to be more conscious and sensitive about their health and hygiene. It has caused a lot of panic as people have been gripped with so much fear that they dread almost any person they come across while they go about their daily businesses.

Personally am not scared of the Virus because it’s not airborne and as such with proper precaution and hygiene, we can keep it off our streets. But I also acknowledge the fact that we can’t be too careful and as such we need divine intervention and protection from God.

The biggest problem is that the world is smaller than it was in the 70’s when the virus was first discovered in northern Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) and in southern Sudan (now South Sudan). Now people travel across the world daily, which is exactly how the virus got into Nigeria in the first place. Just this morning I read that someone that flew in from West Africa has tested positive to the Ebola virus in New York. Nations have begun to shut down their borders completely and strict measures have been taken to quarantine travellers flying in from countries where cases of the Ebola outbreak have been recorded recently.

I also read this morning that a secret serum which was administered to the two American doctors that were infected while treating patients in Liberia helped to save their lives. People have begun to ask questions as to why the drug was given to the two doctors only while several hundred are dying in West Africa. WHO has said that the drug is an experimental drug, as it has never been tested on humans before and therefore can’t be used in an outbreak. It was given to the doctors with their consent and if it’s proven to be effective, it will be made available to the larger populace. This kinda reminds me of the Hollywood movie “World War Z” tho.

Before then, let’s just practice the precautions and always wash our hands, keep our environment sanitised and stay clear bush meats and bats as we've been told. But then again, who in the world eat bats when we have chicken, turkey and several other birds? It is well oh. May God help us find a solution by way of a vaccine soon IJN… Stay safe and live healthy.