Ebola Stigmatization of the helpers

Assistants in the fight against Ebola are socially excluded and hostile

13/10/2014

For a long time, the extent of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa has been dramatically underestimated. For international aid workers, this means that they often lack the resources to effectively counter the disease. In addition, the conditions on site are so inadequate that more infections of the medical staff were detected. In addition, hostility of the populations, because especially in the rural regions, the medical workers are often associated with the outbreak of the disease. Even local health workers have, according to the report of the news agency „dpa“ increasingly struggling with stigmatization. Some were even expelled from their homes.

According to official figures from the World Health Organization (WHO), the death toll from the Ebola epidemic has already risen to more than 4,000, with the countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia particularly affected. In Liberia alone, more than 2,300 people have died as a result of Ebola infection. Given the poor medical infrastructure, the fight against the disease on the ground is extremely difficult. Healthcare workers are under tremendous pressure and are exposed to a significant risk of infection in their daily work. Not without reason are many of the infected doctors, nurses or other medical workers. Although they take on extremely important tasks and can hardly be thanked for their willingness to take risks, the image of health workers among the populations is rather small. Many are marginalized as the locals are afraid of transmission of the deadly pathogens. In rural areas in particular, villagers sometimes even blame auxiliary workers for the outbreak of the epidemic.

Relatives and friends avoid the contact
The combination of fear, ignorance and superstition in the population has in recent weeks repeatedly led to frightening situations for the auxiliary staff. For example, angry crowds drove helpers out of their homes or stormed quarantine stations. The working conditions of the medical staff are thereby made much more difficult. The news agency „dpa“ reports on the case of Jorgbor Guwor, who as an assistant cleans and disinfects the protective suits and medical equipment in an Ebola clinic in the capital of Libera so that they can be used again. The 53-year-old father of five children is at considerable risk at work, but without the protective suits and face masks, dealing with the infected would be too risky for the rest of the medical staff. Thus, for Guwor his help is self-evident, even if friends and relatives increasingly avoid contact because they are afraid of transmission of the pathogens. However, should „the public does not stigmatize us. Because if no one volunteers, who should then fight Ebola? Who should treat the people who are repelling us now if they become infected??“, quotes the „dpa“ the helper.

Health staff referenced from apartments
The stigmatization of the helpers has led to many health workers now try their job to hide and no longer make themselves known in public, the news agency continues. For example, nurses like Mabel Saybay from Liberia would no longer wear their uniforms in public, but would first change in the hospital. But the daily exclusion and hostility in the public are only part of the stigma. There are also more drastic problems at home. For example, according to media reports, employees of the hospitals are thrown out of their rented apartments because the homeowners fear the spread of the disease. Sam Kolleh, owner of a residential building in the Liberian capital Monrovia, said the announcement said „dpa“, that he does not rent apartments to health workers. „Not because I do not appreciate her work. But I do not want the virus to spread further“, The news agency quotes the homeowner. This also suggests the establishment of tent camps for the auxiliary staff.

Assistants are blamed for the epidemic
In the press, Deputy Information Minister Liberias, Isaac Jackson, is quoted as saying that a helper's reference is from their homes „completely unacceptable and unpatriotic“ be. This will not be accepted by the government. But his words have so far had little effect. For example, the community leadership in the city of Sinyea recently gave the helpers the choice of either giving up the job or leaving town, she says „dpa“. Also in Lofa in northern Liberia doctors and burial teams were repeatedly threatened and chased away. Not least because, despite the efforts to educate the population, especially in rural areas rumors that the Ebola epidemic is triggered by the health workers. All in all, the helpers are thus not only confronted with medical catastrophe, but they also often struggle with considerable stigmatization, which complicates their work even more. (Fp)