A lot of the news surrounding West Africa in the recent year
has revolved around Ebola. News sources around the world have been rampantly
theoreticizing what would happen if the virus were to reach the outer world.
Recently more serious journalists have begun discussing the West African
communities actually in the midst of an outbreak.
The most recent outbreak of Ebola is thought to have begun
in the southern region of Guinea. Poverty is rampant in the area and many eat “bush
meat”; this includes animals such as monkeys and bats, both of which can spread
Ebola. The virus spreads through contact with bodily fluid (blood, sweat,
saliva, tears etc), and is easily killed by contact with sunlight or soap. In many of these communities, however,
hand-washing, especially with soap, is not common.
What began as an
isolated case in an isolated village in December 2013 has blown up. With
(insert number) of deaths as of December 10, 2014, the disease continues to
plague Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, and worry the global community,
despite assurances from public health officials that an outbreak is unlikely if
not impossible in Western states (America included).
I was asked to write this post because I live in West
Africa. Fortunately this is all information that I have read or researched.
Senegal had one case of Ebola in September 2014, a university student from
Guinea. He has since recovered and been
sent home. This was actually pretty embarrassing
for Senegal, as he had been to multiple health clinics and been diagnosed with
malaria before the diseased progressed enough for health workers to test him
for Ebola. Since August, health clinics
have ramped up their structures. For
example, my closest health post has a quarantine tent, a protective suit, and
proper medication is available 15 km away in Kolda.
 |
| Handwashing Station in Nigeria. |
But how has Ebola affected Senegalese life? Radio has been a
big component in educating the masses on how to prevent Ebola. Community health workers have been conducting
home visits to make sure people understand prevention and outbreak signs.
Hospitals and public buildings have “wash stands,” sometimes with soap and
water, sometimes with bleach water. But
everyday life has not been effected much. Schools and businesses are still
open. Everything is still business as usual, with an unconscious awareness of
the danger immediately south of the border.
