About ten days ago, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia made a passionate appeal for help to stem the on-going Ebola Virus Disease epidemic ravaging her country and other parts of West Africa, in her letter to the world.
Countries all over the world are apprehensive about the spread of the disease with many taking panic measures which amount to the isolation of the countries at the epicentre of the EVD outbreak in West Africa. Although many developed and developing nations have, and are still rendering help in terms of medical personnel, medical supplies and others, most nations are more concerned with safeguarding their own enclaves. Americans have almost crucified their national leadership because of its refusal of the wholesale ban of flights from the Ebola stricken regions being clamoured for. It is appalling to read a lot of uncharitable and selfish comments from Americans online. Read the previous piece on the Ebola debacle here.
Although a lot of people are clamouring for the isolation of the Ebola affected nations, health experts in many countries including Australia believe in the contrary and have been unanimous in warning on the counter productivity of such a move. It is therefore worrisome and highly regrettable that a nation of the stature of Australia would be the first Western nation to tow a line contrary to the informed opinion of health experts but in deference to the clamour by fearful but ill-informed citizens. The recent action of the Australian authorities leave much to be desired. It is like directly telling President Sirleaf, "you are on your own, we can't assist you in anyway". Australia issued a blanket ban on visas from West African nations affected by the Ebola outbreak, making it the first developed nation to shut its doors to the region. It also suspended its humanitarian programme for Ebola-affected countries. This is despite the fact that the risk of an EVD outbreak in that country is very remote. Other measures taken by the Australian government to "protect its citizens" will effectively discourage any health worker from the country from going to assist m the fight to contain the disease in West Africa. "Fragile" and third world countries going into frenzy on Ebola is understandable but what do we say when a country like Australia is acting like an underdeveloped nation?
This is the same Australia that accused Nigeria of snubbing its offer to help bring back the Chibok girls. The government of Australia is behaving like a "diplomatic dwarf" without foresight. Its actions and inactions in the on going Ebola challenge call to question its competence and credibility as nation to be respected and looked up to. Australia, through its action, has joined the bandwagon of nations stigmatizing people from West Africa.
The Ebola epidemic will be contained but Australia and countries of like ilk will be remembered for their discouraging and disconcerting moves at a desperate period. Australia and its friends should remember that though there are many nations, it is but one world.
No comments:
Post a Comment