Some Nigerians' Local Solution to Ebola
8 August 2014 By Abi Giwa
Nigeria's minister of health, Onyebuchi Chukwu
Many Nigerians believe they have found solution to Ebola spread with bathing and drinking of boiled water and salt solution, a telephone call from Benin City early in the morning of Friday reveals.
The caller asks if the reporter has heard about the latest sickness that is ravaging the world. When asked whether it was Ebola, the caller answered in the positive, and followed with what she said was a piece of good news.
"What is good news about?"
"Haven't you hear about the boiled water you have to bath and drink as solution to Ebola?"
"Is it real?" The caller say it is what she wants to ask, because everyone here is bathing with boiled water and drinking the water after bathing. "I want to ask you whether you know where the source of information for the boiled water and salt solution.
The reporter then made a call to Lagos to find out about what people there were doing. The household in Lagos he interacted on the phone said a large number of people in the house had bathed with boiled water and salt solution and also drank from the water, and that more water were being boiled for those who had not bathed and drank the solution.
Another call later in the afternoon shows that not everyone has embraced the boiled water and salt solution as remedy to Ebola. "Do you also believe in that?" A respondent asked following a question if she has boiled water and drink of the boiled water and salt solution.
Just as many people have resorted to the boiled water and salt solution, there are many others who don't believe in it, and they ask about the source of the information that has led to the composition. Government officials also urged the public to shun the use of the solution, embrace proper hygiene and avoid handshake.
The caller asks if the reporter has heard about the latest sickness that is ravaging the world. When asked whether it was Ebola, the caller answered in the positive, and followed with what she said was a piece of good news.
"What is good news about?"
"Haven't you hear about the boiled water you have to bath and drink as solution to Ebola?"
"Is it real?" The caller say it is what she wants to ask, because everyone here is bathing with boiled water and drinking the water after bathing. "I want to ask you whether you know where the source of information for the boiled water and salt solution.
The reporter then made a call to Lagos to find out about what people there were doing. The household in Lagos he interacted on the phone said a large number of people in the house had bathed with boiled water and salt solution and also drank from the water, and that more water were being boiled for those who had not bathed and drank the solution.
Another call later in the afternoon shows that not everyone has embraced the boiled water and salt solution as remedy to Ebola. "Do you also believe in that?" A respondent asked following a question if she has boiled water and drink of the boiled water and salt solution.
Just as many people have resorted to the boiled water and salt solution, there are many others who don't believe in it, and they ask about the source of the information that has led to the composition. Government officials also urged the public to shun the use of the solution, embrace proper hygiene and avoid handshake.
