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Science against faith

In  1974, a Nigerian led a team of medical officers to contain Ebola  in Sudan. What has gone wrong since then that now the disease seems diffused and is spreading across  West  Africa? What have our scientists, especially epidemiologists, done all these years into a second generation?

Last week, the  Daily Graphic did a piece of objective journalism when after publishing the assertion by the acclaimed Nigerian man of God, Prophet TB Joshua, that he has developed  anointed water that could cure Ebola, the paper spoke to a medical officer for a scientific position on the matter. The paper reported that Prophet Joshua announced at a church service in Lagos that he had developed anointing water which could heal people affected by Ebola.

“If they, the countries affected by the disease, invite me in the capacity of governments, I will not only send the anointed water, I will also carry the anointed water myself to those countries,” the man of God is reported to have  assured. 

The paper spoke to a renowned medical practitioner, Dr  Ken Aryeetey, who predictably dismissed the claim by Prophet Joshua, saying it was an empty claim which could make the work of health workers difficult. Dr Aryeetey, accordingly, appealed to religious leaders not to place the disease in the realm of spirituality. 

Thankfully, the Christian Council explained that no one should assume that  Ebola is a curse from God and asked for intensified public education for Ghanaians to understand how to avoid the scourge.

 This is where science and faith meet.  Whereas science triumphs on the basis of empirical evidence, religion is propelled by faith. But where science has clearly indicated that there is no cure for the disease, the people are open to other means. That is where we need clear commitment from our health workers that they are ready and prepared to help all those who may be affected by the disease.  

That is why the conduct of health workers in the management of suspected Ebola cases must be of great interest to Ghanaians, especially  the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the disease.  So far some of the health workers have not conducted themselves professionally. Most of the panic and drama that the scare of the Ebola has caused can be traced to health workers who have betrayed their profession.  For instance, at the weekend,  rumours had it that cases of Ebola had been reported at the Nsawam Government Hospital. 

As the saying goes that there is no smoke without fire, it was confirmed that three patients had reported at the facility and their blood samples had been sent for analysis. Then in the course of the week, reports from Tema indicated that a patient at the hospital appeared neglected on suspicion that she had been afflicted by Ebola.  That patient’s fundamental right, “that the dignity of all persons shall be inviolable” appears to have been abused. The irony is that  the Tema General Hospital is supposed to be an Ebola centre for the southern part of the country. 

Does it mean that our health workers have not been adequately orientated and sensitised to the issues of Ebola?  If on a mere suspicion the health status of a patient could be passed on to the public, then how ready are we to manage the disease? 

In the face of these developments, if health workers are scared and fleeing from patients based on suspicion and we are told that the disease has no cure, then where is science different from faith? We need to do a little more to sustain public confidence in our health delivery system and the capacity to deal with the threat of Ebola. Health workers must be the first to demonstrate that the disease is not an act of God.  They must help reinforce in our people that indeed cleanliness is next to godliness. 

The authorities must provide for the protection, safety and security of health workers who would be assigned to deal with Ebola cases. But if they continue the way some of them hve started, we may fail miserably if danger strikes. 

In the meantime, while we see what science can do, we should not fail to fall on faith by praying to God to protect Ghana from the scourge of the dreaded Ebola. But our health workers must act more professionally to convince our people that science is a complement to faith and that faith alone is not enough to deal with the scourge if it should strike our shores.

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