We need the help of international agencies, and the international community. We are talking about Ebola virus in the country with the highest number of black people. As this particular case has shown, with easy travel, no country is immune. There is no better war for the United States, Russia, Israel and other big economies to fight than the war against Ebola virus and its allies.
For a disease without a treatment, it is even tempting for patients not to seek professional help, what with laboratory testing which can be expensive, and so for this tests should be free. There is also the stigma aspect of it. Families may decide to hide any family member as with the case in Sierra Leone.
The people also need to be educated, because as it is in some African countries now, there is hostility to health care workers. Health care workers have even been accused of being the ones spreading the disease. Especially when they are dressed in astronaut-like quarantine clothing and when they ask the people to change their cultural practices especially burials, where there is the traditional cleaning of bodies which can put those mourning at risk of the disease.
We must guard against giving wrong information. Health officials and community leaders must cooperate so that there will be public confidence.
Again, we must do everything possible to deal with the Ebola virus. Proper hygiene must be maintained, with regular washing of the hands. This may not be the time for reusing cutlery, even in five-star hotels, especially as it is a high risk place often visited by foreigners. Disposable cutlery may be preferable. Soft drink companies and breweries must have treatments that can kill the virus too. There should be caution at places like a barber’s shop, salon, stadium, viewing centres, even churches and mosques, especially a church like the Catholic Church that people shake hands and hug when offering one another the sign of peace, and take Communion placed on their tongues by the priest. Placing it on the communicant’s palms may be better. For Muslims, it may be better to have your own kettle or bottle for ablution. There is God!.
Again, we must avoid crowded places, and clustering. No bumping into one another on the streets while walking along. Keep to your right, while I keep to mine. Please, spare me the handshake. And roasted bush meat? No, thank you!
Dr. Odoemena is a Lagos-based medical practitioner. Terafema.blogspot.com[eap_ad_3]