ECOMED FOR EBOLA As the entire West African region braces itself against an impending onslaught of the EBOLA virus, I think it will be of strategic significance to approach such a devastating medical crisis as a regional issue rather using it as a nationally-motivating political trump card where we will begin to see individual countries acting tough on ‘border/citizen-protection’ agendas! There is nothing wrong, per se, if our respective governments were to take all the necessaries measures that will ensure the Ebola virus is kept off its borders, but inter-regional realities on ground would definitely pose a serious challenge. In fact, the demography of the region encourages a considerable number of ‘unofficial in-roads’ as alternatives to border policing. In that regard, one might consider the excessive precautionary measures of closing borders, or stopping nationals of affected countries from entering other ‘yet-unaffected’ countries as a mere exercise in futility! In Sierra Leone, we have a proverb in Creole that says: ‘’RAIN NOR DAE FODOM NAR WAN MAN DOMOT!’’ Translated, it means: ‘’ The rain that temporarily stops a neighbour from going out to make a living will one day stop me from making a living too!’’ A further translation would mean: ‘’Difficulties in life can befall anyone! Therefore, we don’t have to derive happiness or feel fortunate from the difficulties of others. Rather, we should share the problems of the neighbour who wasn’t able to make a living on a rainy day, so that, on our own rainy day, that same neighbour will remember to share with us in good-natured gratitude! One good turn, deserves another!’’ This is one solid reason why traditions are important in life! They constitute the bone-marrow characterization of individual reactions to society demands. This is why we, Sierra Leoneans, approach things differently. If conventional wisdom cannot inform others that we gave no invitation card to the Ebola virus to visit Sierra Leone, then traditional wisdom will help us come up with life-saving initiatives that will see us lead an international campaign starting from the Economic Community of West African States [ECOWAS]! There was a time in the early eighties when the entire West African region was being threatened by rebel insurgences and senseless military coups. The problem beggared solutions and who rose to that occasion when it mattered most? Dr. Abass Bundu, the Sierra Leone political veteran, whose thesis won him incredible accolades that led to the formation of the military wing of the organization – the ECOMOG! No doubt, its pivotal military interventions brought lots of stability in the region. Since this Ebola virus chose not to go anywhere else except in a region that has already have its fair share of sufferings, then we will show it our formidable character of resilience. The Sierra Leone government will soon formally initiate the formation of the ECOMED to tackle the Ebola Virus even if temporarily. The region just can’t afford to be complacent at such a crucial time of promising political and economic forecasts! Medically qualified and well-established Africans are all over the world. The brain drain that has understandably attracted hundreds of thousands of them was merely in search of greener pastures, but it never changed the African heart they were born with. Rich African traditions have taught us in emphatic terms about the principle of gratitude to parent, relatives, elders, town, village and country! They are just waiting for a credible organization to start the ball rolling and they will be all too willing to come on board! Unisa Kanu
Posted on: Wed, 04 Jun 2014 20:55:49 +0000
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