One of the most striking changes is the complete lack of human contact. Sierra Leone is a country of welcome and warmth. The usual greeting is to shake hands, then touch your hand to your chest – as if you are drawing that person to your heart. At the beginning of the outbreak, this was adapted with humour – instead of touching hands, people greeted each other with elbows, saying “elbow-la”. Now, everyone is promoting ABC: Avoid Body Contact. At a time when people need physical comfort, none can be given. As I write, I can hear Aisha and Batul, the small girls in our compound, calling to each other in Krio as they play tag: “Don’t touch me, don’t touch anyone, or you’ll die! These are Ebola times!” They are five and seven years old – these are heavy lessons to learn.
Posted on: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:54:11 +0000
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