Sierra Leone's Paramount Chiefs: Erroneous claims that the Ebola
virus
is declining in their
domains has made a medical emergency even worse,
writesSalone
Monitor journalist Ahmed Kanu.
Tribal Chiefs and
Witch Doctors Need to Shut Up about Ebola (Salone Monitor, Sierra Leone)
"This has
nothing to do with 'Juju medicine men' and other superstitious mechanisms that
have already failed. This is about the application of appropriate logistics and
scientific approaches designed to find constructive, transparent and proven
results that everyone can see and understand. … Claims by tribal chiefs that
exaggerate the decline of the disease in their chiefdoms marginalize the
reality that it is spreading. … At a moment when some tribal authorities are frozen
in place out of a comical fear of contracting the virus, the chiefs should stop
contradicting major reports by die-hard international journalists risking their
lives to enter areas of possible contamination to offer first-hand reporting."
All leading chiefs are traditional rulers and honorable people
in civic affairs, but that doesn't mean they should play a role in making scientific
announcements about declining rates of Ebola in their chiefdoms. There remain
many undiscovered cases within their conclaves. More importantly, there are convoys
of well-trained experts with “state-of-the-art” capabilities, predominantly from
America, Britain and China, working to assist the victims, control the disease
and do what is scientifically necessary to eradicate it. This has nothing to do
with “Juju medicine men” and
other superstitious mechanisms that have already failed. This is about the application
of appropriate logistics and scientific approaches designed to find
constructive, transparent and proven results that everyone can see and
understand so that Ebola can be controlled, and the process of eradication can
be structured and implemented.
My concern is that any claims that exaggerate the decline of
the disease in their chiefdoms marginalize the reality that it is spreading,
and may negatively affect the robust application of humanitarian aid in the
affected areas. These continuous claims by chiefs are self-inflicted wounds that
lead people in their chiefdoms and the country in the wrong direction. I am far
from telling these chiefs what to do, but I would suggest that President Ernest
BaiKoroma advise them to
comment less about the progress of a disease they know little about, and allow
the experts to proceed with their operations. The chiefs should render their greatest
support and cooperation, providing feedback only when necessary, and should direct
humanitarian aid – even to areas free of Ebola in order to boost prevention
among people living in those villages and towns. Certainly, it isn't their role
to report about eradication.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was made a Paramount
Chief of
Sierra Leone in 2007. In theory,
this makes Blair entitled
to sit in Sierra Leone's parliament. Perhaps he could put
in a good
word with his fellow chiefs for medical warriors risking their
lives.
Furthermore, at a moment when some tribal authorities are frozen
in place out of a comical fear of contracting the virus, the chiefs should stop
contradicting major reports by die-hard international journalists risking their
lives to enter areas of possible contamination to offer first-hand reporting. That
is nevertheless the right thing to do anyway.
Posted By Worldmeets.US
Subsequently, whatever sources the chiefs rely on for their information
is nothing compared to the astonishingly fearless reporters of the international
press who inform the world - AP, Reuters, CNN, BBC, etc. The president should
consider calling his resident ministers to advise the chiefs to refrain from
making such pronouncements until the experts make more progress with their
operations and report their findings. Meanwhile, if it happens that parliamentarians
or presidential aspirants, including individuals seeking favors by trying to
influence the chiefs for personal gain, President Ernest Koroma
should cut them off for their inappropriate political motives.
