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The sudden re-emergence
of the deadly Ebola virus in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea is really testing
whether we need to re-visit the policies of our public health systems. Today
Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea and the world are worrying about Ebola Virus.
Before Ebola outbreak I was worried about the children, women and men I worked
with at Straight From The Heart. When I was in Liberia last year in November
2013, I was looking at the poor medical infrastructure and poor capacity to
manage basic health for women when it comes to Sexually transmitted Diseases
and high rate maternal death among most Liberia women and young teens. Like
many organizations and Straight From The Heart in Liberia we were not ready for
the Ebola Virus. The impact was very severe for us since we lost two of our boys,
because they went to their village in Lofa County. Media has helped to mitigate
the initial denials by the people that Ebola is not real. Special language programs
on radio for locals. Regular updates on the status of deaths and confirmed
cases. Rumors have also been dispelled especially in regards to cure of the
diseases. Since the state of emergency, media has provided a means of
entertainment and succor to fear and panic situation. Most Liberians are glued
to their radios for updates on the situations.
What I strongly believe
is most people will look at the Ebola outbreak in Liberia as merely an external
force of nature that we human beings somehow had the misfortune to encounter
this in Liberia. That kind of thinking in my country will prevent us from
learning the deeper causes of our public health and the vulnerabilities and
therefor prevent us all in Liberia from addressing then as part of a larger
project to create a healthier, more sustainable way of life in our homes, neighborhoods,
communities, villages, towns and Counties and Countries.
Agnes Fallah Kamara
Umunna
Radio Producer/Presenter & Human Rights Activist
Straight From The Heart
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