West Africa steps up response to Ebola as press calls for more
The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in West Africa . Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone are battling the disease with a handful of cases now being reported in Nigeria.
But while the disease has spread only slowly so far, anxiety is rising across West Africa. On Wednesday Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for 90 days. 鈥淭he government and people of Liberia require extraordinary measures for the very survival of our state and for the protection of the lives of our people,鈥� she said.
Many local newspapers in West Africa are saying efforts like Sirleaf's haven't gone nearly far enough, and also worry that the fear Ebola engenders is undermining efforts to contain it. For instance, the Sun newspaper in Nigeria ran a story headlined 鈥淒octors, nurses panic, reject patients with symptoms similar to EVD.鈥�
The chairman of the medical association in Lagos State told the Sun that low salaries and the hazards of treating Ebola are .
Nigeria has reported just nine cases of the disease.
Sirleaf acknowledged that Libera's health care system is 鈥渦nder immense strain" from fear.
"Many common diseases, which are especially prevalent during the rainy season, such as malaria, typhoid, and common colds, are going untreated鈥� because healthcare professionals are afraid to accept new patients, leading to deaths unrelated to Ebola, she said. 鈥淥ur doctors are worried about the danger it poses to their lives and they need to be reassured."
A Nigerian doctor complained to The Sun of equipment shortages. 鈥淎s leaders of the people in the health industry, we will not allow the government of Ni颅geria to deceive anybody that they have equipment.鈥�
Lack of education on Ebola
An editorial in the Liberian Observer was critical of the response from average citizens, saying they were continuing to act by not properly disposing of bodies or heeding the advice of health care providers.
In the wake of this terrible emergency throughout the country, the government is trying to play its role, but if the people do not cooperate, the epidemic will spread out of control and the lives of ALL the people will be in jeopardy.
Sirleaf addressed the same issue, saying 鈥渋gnorance (and) poverty, as well as entrenched religious and cultural practices continue to exacerbate the spread of the disease.鈥�
An opinion column in the Liberian Observer titled听听discussed cultural traditions for honoring Liberian dead, acknowledging the challenges they pose to the fight against Ebola. 鈥淗ow long will this persist? For how long will our people die from Ebola? Let us be more serious in the fight. Let all of us get on board.鈥�
Both Sirleaf and Sierra Leonean president Ernest Ba Koroma in Washington, D.C., this week, deciding to stay at home and deal with the ongoing spread of Ebola. While Sirleaf was criticized for her government's early response, her declaration of a state of emergency and establishment of a task force have gained some praise.听
Guinea鈥檚 president Alpha Cond茅, on the other hand, decided to attend the summit in Washington and the local press took note.
The ran a long piece criticizing the government鈥檚 reaction to Ebola, contrasting Mr. Cond茅鈥檚 focus on the country鈥檚 mineral resources to what it said was a lack of concern for public health.
