The Economic Impact of Ebola In West Africa

Health is wealth... Unknown

I recently participated in the ALS ice bucket challenge over the weekend as I was challenged by my employee (it also was his birthday).

After this exercise, a friend buzzed me up to ask why I am raising awareness to the ALS disease when the Ebola epidemic was not only ravaging West Africa but was having a serious economic impact.

Well after explaining that is was in honor of a birthday, in the spirit of fun & charity, I took out time to do a little research on the impact of the Ebola epidermic in West Africa.

Now the Ebola virus is not curable. The recent drug "Zmapp" is not 100% efficient and it is in its early test stages. This virus is only communicable in its severe state (fever-sweat, vomit, stool etc). It has recently infected over 2,000 victims out of which less than half have survived.

Several countries have closed its boarders to the West Africa infected areas - fact.
Several airlines have stopped flights to infected regions in West Africa - fact.
Even the government of infected countries have cordoned off high risk areas in their own country.
Food and medicine are in very short supply and people are not only starving but are dieing.

The economic implication of these actions are increased poverty, starvation, inability for foreign aid or Foreign Aid workers to move quickly or efficiently and an economic shut down of the highly infected West African states.

No doubt, Ebola virus is deadly and the level of deaths witnessed recently by this epidemic is quite alarming.

A certain doctor on CNN did say the secret to the cure of this disease may lie in the blood and anti-bodies that helped previous survivors recover. I think this is something Governments and Medical Research institutions need to look into and I think it is time we helped raise awareness towards the Ebola scourge and treatment.

So this is my way of raising awareness. When I come up with something similar to the ice bucket challenge & a research center to donate to, I will definitely let you know.

Thank you.

Mr David Chiaka