Ebola: Can Africa Handle Its Aftermath?

By Joachim Arrey in West Africa

The Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is continuing its onward march to other African countries with very little resistance as many Sub-Saharan African countries are ill-equipped to handle such health emergencies. Many experts had thought it would be limited to West Africa, but a few days ago, the insidious and merciless killer showed up on Congolese shores uninvited and in a different form. This new strain is as dangerous as its West African cousin that has claimed more than 2,000 lives and sickened thousands of people. While WHO and other agencies put the number of deaths at less than 2,000, many experts argue that those figures are understated as in countries like Sierra Leone and Liberia, there are many shadow zones where many Ebola victims are not reported and family members sometimes prefer to keep their loved ones at home for them to die in the arms of their loved ones rather than take them to quarantine centres, an act that has helped the virus to spread like wild fire in traditional and impoverished African communities.

While love is critical during tough times, it is preposterous to insist on caring for infected loved ones, especially as typical traditional African settings are completely bereft of the proper scientific knowledge that can help members of the community deal with such a testing and tough health challenge that Ebola has thrown up on the continent. Those who have dared to toy with Ebola have not had the opportunity to tell their story. It is an experience nobody would even wish it on their worst enemy. In many cases, it has simply deleted whole families from the face of the earth. It has also dealt a severe blow to health communities in West African countries which were already in great need of well-trained health workers and state-of-the-art infrastructure before the virus reared its ugly head on their shores. Now that it is finally around and resisting all attempts to roll it back, these countries might be pushed further into the abyss of desperation as many health workers will surely quit their jobs and look to Western countries where salaries are better and sudden death is a remote reality.

With fragile health infrastructure and outdated traditional habits, it is increasingly becoming clear that Africa has a tough challenge on its hands. While the cause of the virus is still unclear, scientists however consider wild animals, which are a major source of proteins to many Sub-Saharan Africans, as the major vector in the spread of this virus that has no regard for social class or political status. With the sub-region mired in severe economic and financial times, many are seeking to know if Africa will be able to handle such a tough challenge, especially as life on the continent is not science-based and traditional ways are resisting news and innovative lifestyles that can help keep such a virus in check.

In many parts of the continent, it is normal to see a bunch of young men chasing a small rat in broad day light just because they believe that its rightful place is in their stomachs. Many hardly pause to think that such a small animal could spell death for many members of their community. While other continents such as North America and Europe have walked away from the consumption of these animals, in Africa their consumption has reduced them to endangered species. This is not the first time Ebola is striking the continent, but after every attack, Africans relapse to their old ways of hunting these animals for food and in the process shooting themselves in the foot. There are alternative protein sources which are risk-free and Africans stand to gain if they embrace those alternative sources. There are surely new ways that can stop the African from shedding tears of sorrow. While hunting animals for food is their way of life, they must also understand that every way of life can be changed. They simply have to take a look at what others are doing to stay away from pain and suffering. These viruses are a nightmare. They have blighted life on the continent. Each time they show up in one country, they destabilize the entire continent. Isn’t it time to learn?

On the economic front, business is almost at a standstill in many parts of the continent. The continent’s aviation and tourism industries have taken a hit. Many businessmen are already under pressure as their businesses take a nosedive due to the threat posed by Ebola. While human life is more important, it must be pointed out that the virus has rolled back the continent by at least ten years in terms of business. And this fight has just been playing out in a few weeks and WHO experts indicate that the fight against Ebola might take more than six months. With no end in sight, it is clear that Africa is walking into tough economic times. At the end of the battle, it will be hard to really count the economic cost as many businesses will be a thing of the past. African governments are cash-strapped and with a lot on their plates, they will not be able to help those businesses affected by this dangerous virus to stand on their feet. Ebola does not only kill humans. It also kills businesses and this makes the future really bleak for many young Africans who may not find work. This could translate into more future political and economic challenges to a continent that is permanently in the throes of political chaos. That is why many experts are asking if Africa will be able to handle the mess left behind by Ebola.