By Ezekiel Nabieu
Ending the existence of the Ebola Virus Disease in Sierra Leone has been rather tantalising. It has also proved to be an enigma wrapped up in a mystery. If not how can scientists explain the existence of the
virus in a new born baby while his/her mother is negative. And this has occurred on more than one occasion eliciting unscientific guesses.
This brings me to a quotation from President Ernest Bai Koroma when he said in a nation-wide address, inter alia, “I am sure that all Sierra Leoneans want this scourge to end…”
The operative word inadvertently omitted in that sentence was SINCERE. In order to reflect the situation on the ground the sentence should have read: “I am sure all SINCERE Sierra Leoneans…” This is simply because the will is lacking in many Sierra Leoneans owing to selfish motives.
The foray of the Ebola Virus Disease into West Africa has been the subject of various myths and legends. The allegation is made that the Ebola Virus is a United States biological weapon, adding that it was created in the United States labs and exported to West Africa by white American doctors disguised as mission workers. Be it so, our accent here is not on the origin of the disease but its elimination for good.
Government must be commended for realizing albeit belatedly that the main causes of the spread of the disease were not mere hand shaking with anyone but with those who start to show signs of the disease and washing of the dead.
Commendable Action
The good news is that we (the patriots excluding sycophants) stood firm to get some of those noxious provisions in the Public Health Emergency regulations out of the way. The government too should be commended for acceding reluctantly to the voice of God. The pressure including a few APC party members was overwhelming.
Contradictions Let me mention some of the inherent contradictions put in place in our zest to get rid of the scourge. This is in order not to repeat measures in futility if the virus returns after its departure. The most contradictory of those was the permission that was given to religious congregations to assemble in their thousands while banning a few scores of people from assembling though they would meet the requirements of temperature and hand washing. Schools and colleges reopened later and it was surprising that not a single child or student contracted the disease in spite of their inter-mingling for hours.
Meanwhile, local trade fairs (Lomas) remained closed for months on end causing untold economic hardship all in the name of Avoid Body Contact (ABC). Like the religious congregations from which no outbreaks of the disease were reported the same measures would have been adopted at the
fairs by a compliant people without much ado. But don’t be surprised.
The National Ebola Response Centre had to be seen doing something to justify its continued existence.
Traditional Healers
Traditional Healers ought to have been an integral part of the ending of the disease from the word GO but this was not the case for reasons known only to the politically initiated. Rather, huge sums of money were dished out to politicians so that the credit would be given to the government regardless of the slovenly manner in which it was done.
Traditional healers were only involved when the scourge had gone out of hand and thousands had died relying on them. It was a case of help of the helpless. To them the Ebola virus was medically ultra vires as they later learnt. They have an association which should have been assisted earlier with funds provided for ending Ebola. They have lately even been begging for logistic support. How sad!
Spokesmanism
Whether you like it or not, APC government, unlike the SLPP, places premium on propaganda and rightly so. The last SLPP government had one spokesman and this APC has two. I will not be surprised if they have three before next elections.
The other day the deputy government spokesman was on the air saying that one was more likely to contract the disease in a cinema or video hall than at the market place because of the longer time sitting together at the entertainment centre. He couldn’t compare the longer time spent at religious services with worshippers clustering together.
Sometimes these spokesmen run out of ideas and end up clutching at the straws to avoid drowning.
Never mind the fact that they are pipers who have no alternative but act according to their pay masters. The prevention of OVERCROWDING in the president’s address to the nation is rather open-ended. The
determination of overcrowding is not like overloading in which case a specific number of passengers is stated. Is there going to be counting of people in all public assemblies? This provides another niche for
corrupt police officers to indulge in their nefarious practices.
Let the public know when crowding becomes overcrowding. Ambiguous statements should be avoided especially in state matters.
Vaccinations
Belatedly comes the news that a vaccine for the elusive disease is within reach. This is after a galaxy of some of our most distinguished medics had succumbed to the disease; when push has come to shove.
Ironically, Guineans who stoned and killed Ebola Medical staff have willingly allowed themselves to be vaccinated in their numbers without remonstrance. We have been beaten to it. Will it not be prudent for
NERC to fast track the vaccination of the populace?
But Ebola funds are still available and NERC should be seen to be effective. Where is the political will to end Ebola?
(C) Politico 26/08/15
