Five reading materials to keep you Ebola-alert
How do we do this? We do this by keeping abreast of all Ebola-related information. What Countries still have it? How are they coping? How are we manning our land, air and sea borders and how we are educating our rural populace? Nigerians love life and do not want anything to affect their happy go […]
How do we do this? We do this by keeping abreast of all Ebola-related information. What Countries still have it? How are they coping? How are we manning our land, air and sea borders and how we are educating our rural populace? Nigerians love life and do not want anything to affect their happy go lucky lifestyle. But it is not enough to have just thoughts; we must do more to keep the Ebola virus away from us.
We must keep our eyes on the International stories around Ebola. What is going on in Spain, U.S and Liberia? Who is infected, what is the cycle? Who have they had contact with and how is it being managed by the authorities in the affected areas? The best way to stay safe is to stay away from countries with prevalence of the virus and learn what centers for disease control worldwide are doing. America is currently in the lead to find the cure since Duncan became the first casualty on American soil. New drugs are ready for tests on patients and should be delivered by pharmaceutical companies by January 2015.
Let me share with you what I have been reading.
(1) Time Magazine: I have followed the International magazine closely on their coverage of Ebola. It started little by little and then three weeks ago there were two stories on Ebola and a one line mentioned of Nigeria’s success on the matter.
Two weeks ago Ebola made it as the cover of Time Magazine.
Clearly the International attention Sawyer sought for the disease by coming to Nigeria has come to pass. In a well-researched four page pull out to include symptoms, management, success stories, cycle and a comparative analysis of Ebola and another similar flu virus, the magazine showcased its in-depth knowledge of the virus. It concluded that once we can conquer fear then the problem is half solved and research must be continuous. It adds that animal transmitted diseases should be more closely monitored especially on the African continent as no one knows when the next viral disease will be. Highly recommended reading.
(2) The Economist: I really used to have great difficulty reading The Economist. It used to be so highly technical that I avoided it like a plague. But lately, I have found myself reading it, even enjoying the articles. I think they probably affected their writing, made it softer. Three weeks ago, their cover was on gay rights and a little quarter page on Ebola. Two weeks ago, Ebola became the cover for The Economist. The cover picture was of a bandage-swathed medical worker all covered up as always.
(3) All Nigerian Newspapers: All Nigerian papers are doing their bit. Their health correspondents are providing us all the information from other magazines. Nigerian Newspapers have come into their own over the years. The coverage of WHO’s declaration of Nigeria as Ebola-free by Nigerian newspapers was heart-warming. The media really worked very hard in publicizing the symptoms and management of the virus and the media were as much in the trenches as all other stakeholders at containing the disease from Nigeria.
(4) On-line material: This is good to go to but must be filtered; Twitter, Google, Facebook, blogs. Care must be taken to ascertain sources and be sure before you begin to believe all sorts of information including but not limited to bathing with salt and drinking same at 4a.m or carrying vegetable, peppers and nuts on one’s head for a day to cure Ebola. Still the internet provides robust material and updates on Ebola.
(5) Any book on the Black Death disease that ravaged Europe in the years 1346-53. This disease which killed an estimated 75-200 million people is considered one of the most devastating pandemics in human history. With better handling, modernization, research findings and science, the Ebola virus disease will certainly not get to the epic proportion of the Black Death.
Be that as it may, keep yourself away from flash zones. Wash your hands as often as you can and stay healthy.
BONUS :
Read, Read as much as you can.
There are all sorts of journals and magazines out there including lifestyle magazine like; Genevieve, TW Vogue, Marie Claire etcetera that have carried the information about this disease. There is no such thing as information overload. Ebola is a deadly disease, protect yourself.