IT is extremely regrettable that while the world is pulling in one direction in efforts to curtail the spread of Ebola in mainly West Africa, some Namibians this week resorted to creating despondency by spreading rumours that Ebola cases were recorded in Namibia.
The author of a SMS circulated this week, for purposes only known to him or herself, caused unnecessary havoc and fear among citizens.
Health Minister Dr Richard Kamwi, who in fairness has been preoccupied with efforts to ensure Namibia remains safe from Ebola, had his attention diverted from this important task to assure the public, through a parliamentary address, that this was actually a big lie.
How low can some uncouth and demented individuals stoop?
This scandalous lie is both insensitive on the part of whoever mothered it. This is non-progressive and is at the height of irresponsibility. Playing on the emotions of brave men and women, who are tirelessly and selflessly working around the clock to bring under control the spread of Ebola, is uncalled for and unpatriotic.
Some health workers contracted the virus in the line of duty and some have succumbed to the virus. That is how serious the situation is, yet someone out there, probably swimming in a pool of boredom, reserved so much time to create a lengthy SMS to specifically unsettle the country.
Namibia, as part of the international community – or global village if you like – is working towards protecting its citizens and key interventions were devised in the past weeks, including reserving a room at Windhoek Central Hospital for that very purpose.
In general, Namibians have been closely monitoring what is happening in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, the only countries on the African continent with confirmed cases of Ebola, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
A neighbouring country of ours has shut its doors to anyone arriving in the country from the four above-mentioned countries because of fear of Ebola.
And who can blame them? The virus doesn’t have specified cure.
Traces of Ebola have been detected in Africa in the past. However, this is the deadliest Ebola outbreak in recorded history, having infected nearly 2 000 people, with more than half of those killed by the disease.
More than half of the infected people, 1 069 to be specific, have died. Not even Ebola’s cousin, Aids, is deemed this dangerous, yet it is one of the most feared epidemics of our time.
Fraud is a serious crime in Namibia and the hoax about Ebola in Namibia is actually fraud against whose initiator a charge can be laid. This person, whoever s/he is, deserves to go where similar fraudsters are languishing – prison!
Unfortunately, the person behind this scam is vociferously following an agenda that aims only at creating despondency among the people and at making them lose hope in the handling of affairs by the government.
True, our government is not perfect. No government is. But when lies are created to create hopelessness among the citizenry, through lies and deceit, Namibians would demand justice against the culprits.
And with all the problems our country faces, an honest observation would lead anyone to a conclusion that insofar as the Ebola outbreak is concerned, Namibia would rank among the countries that have rolled out impressive preparatory strategies to deal with any case detected in the country.
The creator of that lie, whoever that person is, must be condemned with the contempt he or she deserves. In fact we are certainly sure that the authorities would welcome any help in identifying the original author of that text message.