What's So Funny About Bleeding To Death? -_-

Sigh.

You would think by now the whole world would be aware of the dangers of the most recent epidemic on rampage, Ebola. Sadly, this isn't so.You cannot truly understand how backward Nigeria is sometimes, until some tragedies occur and you realize that the average man walking on the streets hustling to feed and keep a roof under his head has absolutely no idea about what is going on in the country around him. In the past two days, I have had to inform and educate at least FIVE people who had NEVER heard about Ebola and it's horrific and fatal effect on the human body. Traders, cabbies, lower class and middle-class alike, walking around completely oblivious of this epidemic that has come upon us.

Ebola Virus

I find it highly distasteful that rather than take this burning issue seriously and educate people who do not know any better, some delirious and shallow people have found a way of turning the issue into jokes and memes.This is unacceptable and disgraceful, if you ask me. There is absolutely nothing funny about an epidemic that is killing people as rapidly as Ebola is, and to worsen matters, Ebola HAS NO CURE yet!! NONE!!!! People have died and are still dying as a result of it so making jokes at this point is a no-no for me.

I know a lot of Nigerians like to turn tragedies into jokes to make them more bearable to comprehend and deal with mentally, but the truth is there are lines to be drawn. At what point do you then draw the line? Is it when someone you know contracts this dreadful disease or when oneself gets it?

While I get the need to have a "coping mechanism" for tragedies and the need not to create a panic, I believe there are better ways to help spread the awareness that make a mockery out of a situation as dire as this is. The seriousness of this epidemic (and the fact that it IS an epidemic) is watered down by tasteless jokes and flippant comments. Do bear this in mind, thank you very much.

Please find more information (which are easier to digest) about Ebola here: http://ebolafacts.com/ Also endeavor to show it to as many as you can around you. The link has very easy to understand slides that will help even a layman to understand what Ebola is about and how to avoid getting infected.

Thanks and keep being #AllHeartsAlways