SOS: The Federal government, under the ministry of Health, has directed religious bodies in the country not to advertise their institutions as centres for the cure of the Ebola plague currently being tackled in some west African countries. In his words and Speaking on behalf of the Health Ministry, Prof. Abdulsalami Nasidi of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, said we are asking that churches, mosques, Temples. shrines, voodoo centres and other places of spiritual activity not be used as avenues to divert possible carriers of the deadly virus in a manner that would facilitate its spread to a larger populace. These establishments neither have the expertise to contain nor cure this viral plague. We dont want a situation where its spread is catalyzed by healing processes which usually involved palm contact between the spiritualists and their patients as they touch one possibly infected person to another in the bid to drive the deadly virus out of them (bola can be contacted through exchange of bodily fluid by basic skin contact). Also these adverts will probably cause a surge into Nigeria territory from country currently plagued by this terminal illness and everything must be done to prevent such an occurrence. We therefore advise our pastors, Imams, herbalists and other mystics to pray for our West African neighbours as they battle this scourge and continue with their social responsibilities in providing moral guide for our respective followers and societies. This is coming in the heels of a ban of two churches in Ghana for flouting the directive of the Ghanaian government to this effect and recent claims broadcast online by two Nigerian pastors to having a cure for the deadly plague. The Liberian Government has issued a similar warning to its religious bodies. Nigeria has no confirmed case of the disease outside the case of a Liberian American Mr Patrick Sawyer who flew into Lagos less than a fortnight ago and died of this illness five days later. He has since been cremated and his ashes sent back to his family in Liberia for proper burial rites.- (from Rythm 93.7 FM this morning) This might seem disconcerting news particularly as it suggests a demystification of our exalted holy places but this issue should be viewed beyond mere religious grandstanding. It is a humanitarian problem that should be handled with utmost technical proficiency by tested and certified medical experts for its incredibly contagious and terminal nature. Second this is not my status update but a federal government release. If anybody, out of religious affiliations (understandably), views it as offensive, it would be better to take your complaint to one of the pages of the numerous Federal institutions on Facebook like Ministry of information, Ministry of defense, Nigerian Military, Goodluck Jonathans page etc etc. Finally, apologies to those who are slighted that I even though to share it at all.... :) (Y) Obi Nwaegbe
Posted on: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 10:59:15 +0000
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