Written by Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti |Published : August 22, 2014 3:18 PM IST
Charles Yegba, a Liberain artist has taken the aid of music to spread awareness about the Ebola virus in his community. The rap song written by Charles has the lyrics 'Take way the fear, don't hide yourself. People can still survive from Ebola'. The singer said, 'In the beginning, like many Liberians I also believed that there was no disease called Ebola and it was a mere gimmick to collect money from the people. But he got to know the seriousness of the disease outbreak when a person with Ebola symptoms was lying on the street in this area.'
As leader of the AFROCO music group, Charles is planning to create video to spread his message across the nation. One of the verses of the song says, 'Please go to the hospital, if you feel fever, diarrhea or vomiting'. He is leaving no stone unturned to raise awareness among his family and friends and thinks that music is the most powerful medium to reach a greater audience. The local radio stations in Liberia are currently playing songs related to Ebola virus.
It is very crucial to spread awareness to general public about transmission of Ebola and how to prevent it. This is only possible only through strong involvement and initiation of various strategies like Charles did through his song.
What is ebola virus?
The Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a severe condition caused by a virus from the Filoviridae family. Known to be a condition that is transmitted from animals to humans, this virus spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or animal.
Take this 60-second Ebola quiz and save your life!
How can it be prevented?
According to Dr Ratan, 'There aren't any vaccinations available as of now, so basic hygiene is of importance and a must be followed in order to prevent the onset of the condition. Simple activities like washing your hands well, drinking water from a clean source, maintaining general hygiene and cooking your meat well, can all serve as precautionary measures. Apart from that people should avoid crowded places, or those that are known to have an outbreak. It is also important that if they notice any early symptoms, they should visit a doctor immediately.'
Should people in India worry?
'It's not prevalent in India, but people living in remote areas, where living conditions are poor, are always at risk of getting infected. But largely there is no need to worry as such.' Read more:Ebola virus causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and prevention
Photo source: Getty images
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