DON’T PANIC

EDITORIAL

“DON’T PANIC”

That is the first and sometimes most important rule of crisis management. Nigeria has over the past decade become quite adept at surviving crisis, but this might yet be our toughest one. We face a foe that knows no ideology, no logic and no compassion and we face this foe almost totally unprepared. Still, we cannot afford to give way to the panic that is rapidly spreading through the populace because panic, even more than our lack of preparation might be our undoing.

It has been barely two weeks since Nigeria reported her first recorded case of the Ebola virus and “ebolaphobia” has quickly become rife. “Don’t touch me, you might have Ebola” is an oft repeated joke that perhaps stems from a very real fear of this disease that can spread through a single touch. Even more dangerous than HIV/AIDS because it is so highly communicable, Ebola demands an extreme level of caution but it also demands that we calm down to take stock of our situation and that we work together to fight this faceless foe.

Kudos to those among us, the medical and non-medical personnel alike, who have taken it upon themselves to educate as many people as possible about the virus. Let us join the train, making use of the social media and other tools at our disposal to spread useful information, not fear. For as we have many who are trying to help, there are also many others who are using this issue as an avenue for mischief. To all those who are in this category we appeal most strongly, please stop. Stop the inciting messages, the scary jokes, the gruesome pictures and the terrible stories. They do no one any good.

The Nigerian situation in this crisis is unique because unlike the other affected countries, we have a large and very dense population which gives room for the virus to be even more of an epidemic within our borders than it has been elsewhere. The symptoms of this disease are said also to be very similar to malaria which is quite rampant in Nigeria. We therefore need to be very careful and observant so that cases can be detected early enough and reported to the right authorities. We also have to take proper precautions as individuals to limit the spread of the virus.

Below are some basic tips to note concerning Ebola virus:

• Wash your hands frequently. Use soap and water or use alcohol based hand rubs containing at least sixty (60) percent alcohol when soap and water aren’t available.
• Avoid bush meat and any other meat whose source you do not know.
• Stay away from areas of reported outbreaks
• Avoid contact with infected persons

Do have a great week ahead.