Stopping Ebola through Story & Signal
- Neelley Hicks
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 20 hours ago
By Kathy Gilbert
Methodist communicators from countries on the front lines of a dangerous Ebola outbreak in Africa shared how the church is combating the virus through accurate, factual information during an online discussion on June 24 sponsored by Harper Hill Global.
The Rev. Neelley Hicks, director of Harper Hill Global, organized the online meeting with the Rev. Dr. Betty Kazadi Musau, North Katanga UMC Conference; Joseph Kanyike, director of Communications for the Global Methodist Uganda Annual Conference; George Kannington Orochi, director of Integrated Development Initiative for Development Initiatives, Uganda; and Judith Yanga, communications director of the East Congo UMC Episcopal Area. Musau said there are many rumors and misinformation about Ebola.
“The church has both community reach and institutional strength. It plays a vital role because it reaches low-income and vulnerable populations—those living on the margins,” Musau said. “While the formal health system includes supervisors who travel to remote areas, the church goes even further by meeting people where they are and reaching those who might otherwise be overlooked,” she said.
Those involved in this work are driven by a desire to share health and well-being with others, she said.
Musau said the idea is simple.
“I am healthy because you are healthy, and I want you to be healthy. Through the value of Ubuntu, which recognizes that each person’s well-being is connected with that of their neighbor, we seek holistic well-being for everyone, she said.
Kanyike reported the country continues to maintain a strong response to the Ebola outbreak linked to the Bundibugyo strain originating from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Uganda has recorded 20 confirmed cases, including two deaths,” he said.
“Meanwhile, our neighboring country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, continues to face a significant increase in a number of confirmed cases and deaths reported. The threat of cross-border transmission remains real, particularly for communities along our western and West Nile border,” he said.
“This is where the partnership between Harper Hill Global and the Global Methodist Church in Uganda has become especially important.” Some people still don’t believe Ebola exists, he added. “Some think it is another disease or witchcraft.
“Prevention, control and safe handling of Ebola is the responsibility of everybody, every government, every international body and every organization. Together, our contribution will stop the outbreak,” he said.
Harper Hill Global and its partners are providing an animated video: “Do Not Let My Death from Ebola Take You Too,” created by Firdaus Kharas, founder of Chocolate Moose Media. The video emphasizes handwashing and hygiene and addresses the importance of honoring the dead while avoiding physical contact with the body of a loved one who has died from Ebola.
“One question we are often asked is why we translated our Ebola prevention animation into six languages: English, Luganda, Ateso, Lugbara, Runyankole, and Kiswahili”, Kanyike said.
“The answer is simple: people are most likely to trust, understand, and act upon health information when it is communicated in their heart language.”
Yanga said when Ebola was first confirmed, some social media reports were saying the reports were false.
“They said Ebola was not a disease but was something that politicians did to kill people,” she said.
The World Health Organization has said there is no vaccine or medicine for the current strain of Ebola that is spreading now. Prevention of the spread of the disease is so important, she added.
“We are trying to use the local churches to spread good information. If a pastor says on Sunday morning Ebola does exist, people listen,” she said.
She emphasized it is important to have messages about Ebola translated into the local languages of the community.
Orochi said the borders between countries are “porous” and that has contributed to the spread of the disease.
“Prevention, control and safe handling of Ebola is the responsibility of everybody, every government, every international body and every organization. Together, our contribution will stop the outbreak,” he said.
Hicks said, “I invite you to keep the programs of Harper Hill Global in mind for donations and partnerships. What we’ve done so far is through gifts from $25 to $2,500 and up. These gifts help us feel the resounding love of community. Together, we can stop Ebola."
Download Ebola prevention animations at https://vimeo.com/showcase/12289587?
We would appreciate knowing how and where you are using them!