Short Drama on Ebola

“Where is she? Where is the witch?” the angry mob yelled as they approached Mohammed’s compound,

demanding to see his first wife, who they accused to be a witch

About a week earlier, Amina, Mohammed’s second wife, and her three children had died mysteriously.

They had the same symptoms; fever, headache and bleeding through the nose. The village priest alleged

the cause of their death was witchcraft. Awa, Mohammed’s first wife, was accused of being the culprit. It

was believed that she was jealous because she could not bear a child and her mate had three children. So,

the village youths wanted to stone her to death. It took the intervention of the village head and the elders

to calm the situation.

“Please, let us remain calm. The health authorities are also trying to investigate the cause of death.

Let us give them some time, then we’ll know how to address this.” Said one of the elders to the youths

There days later the health authorities called the entire village to a meeting before the village head and

they speak thus:

“The post mortem lab results were ready and contrary to villagers’ conviction, Mope and her three

children died of Lassa fever. About 10 days before they started showing symptoms, Amina and her

children had consumed garri (cassava flakes) which she made herself. This delicacy could be

consumed raw by soaking inside water.

For about three weeks now, there has been an outbreak of Lassa fever in some of the states in Nigeria.

The Ministry of health had commenced many strategies to halt the incidence and control the Lassa

fever outbreak. Health education appears to be the most important way of preventing Lasa fever

Lassa fever is an Acute Febrile disease caused by the Lassa virus. It was first described in the 50s and

the virus was isolated in 1969 in Lassa, Nigeria. Lassa fever occurs more often in the dry season,

rather than in the rainy season. The multimammate rat, meaning a rat with many nipples (Mastomys

natalensis) is the reservoir host of Lassa fever.

To avoid Lassa fever,

a. Store your food in tight lid containers

b. Dump waster from your residence

c. Keep a neat surrounding

d. Ensure no rat hideout within your house

e. Report any symptom of the disease to the local health center for quick attention.”