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The impact of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa

Mar 5, 2015, 9:30 AM | Article By: Alieu Jobe

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa has caused so much damage to the economies of hardest-hit countries, as well as serious problems to their survival because it has brought farming activities and other agricultural issues to a complete halt.

The outbreak has made so many people to stop participating in these sensitive sectors due to the fact that they might be victims themselves, which has caused the agricultural sectors of those countries to become very fragile.

But the big question is: how are we going to try and put a complete stop to the virus from spreading.

That is a very big task that every one of us should take seriously.

As we, all know the Ebola is everyone’s business. We have been informed that people should wash their hands with soap and water and also try to minimize hand shaking to prevent the spread of the virus, which if taken seriously would be of great help.

In The Gambia, we thank Allah, for not having any case since the outbreak started and the Ministry of Health is doing all it could to prevent the virus from entering the country, for which we are really grateful.

This outbreak has caused so much pain and suffering to the West African region since the first case was discovered in Guinea, and to Sierra Leone and Liberia.

We have witnessed the worst Ebola outbreak ever during this period, and if the whole world continues to support the efforts to stop the virus then we can certainly contain it very soon.

Fighting Ebola is a must, because it is a disease that has threatened the whole world and has to be defeated.

It has already killed 9,714 people in West Africa alone, which is very disheartening and sorrowful because entire families have been totally wiped out due to the virus and if we do not take a very quick response, it might escalate, which will be very detrimental to all of us.

The good news is that the IMF has pledged a financial aid package for Sierra Leone to the tune of one hundred and eighty-seven million dollars to fight the virus, and to reshape the economy of the country, which is a very good gesture to the people of Sierra Leone.

The country, which has recorded most of the cases and suffered a lot from the outbreak, will be very delighted by the gesture, because it will certainly help to rebuild their already fragile agricultural sector and also their economy.