The government of Liberia has appealed to the government of Nigeria to bear with it over the outbreak of the dreaded Ebola virus in the country.
The Liberian government is making the appeal on behalf of its people after an Ebola victim from the country, Patrick Sawyer imported the disease to Nigeria, leading to the death of two people, while several others are said to be under close monitoring.
Prof. Al-Hassan Conteh, Liberian Ambassador to Nigeria yesterday during a gathering between Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu and foreign missions also informed the gathering about struggles of his home government in curtailing the virus, which involved the declaration of a state of emergency.
In addition, he demanded for the safety of his people in Nigeria, emphasizing that reports have shown that Liberians were being harassed in the country.
“The President of Liberia declared last night a state of emergency in Liberia effective August 6th, 2014 for 90 days to institute extra ordinary measures in combating this disease. “The measures are indeed extra ordinary, even to the detriment of the constitution regarding curbing certain rights of individuals to put this disease to an end.
“I would like to appeal for the indulgence of Nigerian government. The attention of our embassy has been brought to several cases of harassment of Liberians, especially in Lagos and other places.
“The harassment is based on stereotyping, sometimes expression of collective guilt. I think as we combat this disease, I would like to recommend that our responses in the public campaign indicate that association are not causation.
“So, that the index case came from Liberia does not mean all Liberians in Nigeria have Ebola. People have been harassed.
“I would like to commend the media; they have been very effective but there is one case I will like to bring to your attention, that is The Sun newspaper of Sunday, a cartoon, it is a very funny cartoon but it is based on this collective guilt we are talking about.
“The cartoon illustrates a plane that has just landed and people are running from the plane, and a man said: ‘There is a man who looks like a Liberian inside the aircraft, run, run, run, Ebola!’
“We join you in this fight and Liberia is playing its part, but I would like to appeal to you because there are law abiding Liberians living with you here in Nigeria who have been harassed. So, I appeal for your indulgence as you frame your responses, especially on radio because people have been making derogatory remarks that have been brought to our attention.” Said Prof. Al-Hassan Conteh.
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