Ebola epidemic heightened by poor facilities and distrust of healthcare | Matthew Clark

From Global development | The Guardian Wed Aug 13 2014, 11:25:53

Children are dying of preventable diseases all the time in Africa. The nastiness of the Ebola outbreak shouldnt let us forget that

In June and July approximately 5,000 women and children in Sierra Leone died of diseases. The vast majority of these deaths were avoidable. For women and children in Sierra Leone, June and July were just like any other month: unnecessarily dangerous and largely forgotten.

The Ebola outbreak in the country killed 233 people during the same period, and the story made headlines around the world. Why do the relatively small number of people dying of Ebola occupy the worlds media while the thousands of women and children who die of other illnesses barely get mentioned? Is it an attempt to raise awareness, mobilise resources and halt the epidemic? Or is sensationalism to blame? Children dying in Africa is old news, while an Ebola outbreak sounds like the setting for a Hollywood blockbuster.

Continue reading...

[view whole blog post ]
 See More    |     Report Abuse


You might also be interested in the following news stories:

Afrique:  Revue de presse de l'Afrique Francophone 29 Avril 2024 (news)
allAfrica.com
29 Avril 2024

Togo :  Jour d'élections - Ce lundi 29 avril chômé, férié et payé Au Togo, la journée du lundi 29 avril 2024 est déclarée ... [read more]

Sierra Leone:  Nous ne devrions pas avoir à supplier ou à négocier pour les droits des femmes (interview)
Africa Renewal
30 Avril 2024

Isata Bendu Mahoi, Ministre du Genre et de l'Enfance de la Sierra Leone, a récemment participé à la 68ème session de la Commission sur la condition de la femme (CSW) au ... [read more]

Sierra Leone:  Fugitive Linked to Failed Coup Fatally Shot (news)
Concord Times
27 Avril 2024

Police announced that Captain John Conteh, a wanted suspect in the failed November 26, 2023 coup, was shot and killed by law enforcement officers after attempting to evade capture once more. During a ... [read more]



blogAfrica is allAfrica.com's platform to help you keep an ear on the African blogosphere. We draw diverse voices from around the world who post regularly and insightfully about African issues. Bloggers, submit your blog's rss-feed!