Weah warns citizens

Liberia’s Peace Ambassador, George Weah, has warned citizens against rumors that health workers are spreading the deadly Ebola virus, and rather urged everyone to unite under the 90 days of the State of Emergency to combat the virus.

Mr. Weah, an ex-international football icon turned politician, stressed the need to adhere to preventive measures prescribed by health authorities, saying Ebola is real and has no cure.

Speaking Monday during the official launch of the Montserrado County District six Ebola task force in Paynesville, Weah said there were chances of survival if suspected victims report for early treatment.

During the ceremony graced by several officials, including Vice President Joseph N. Boakai and House Speaker Alex Tyler, Weah warns that “salt water bath” offers no help in the Ebola fight, opposed to rumors circulated here.

He acknowledged the gravity of the outbreak in Liberia as one of the hardest hit West African states, and stressed the need for collaboration in order to succeed in the fight.

Though a considerable size of the Liberian population seems to be accepting the fact that Ebola is killing scores of victims daily, denial triggered by rumors and slow responses to health situations are equally being reported in some quarters as major contributing factors to the increasing casualties here.

For his part, House Speaker Alex Tyler said, Montserrado County has started a very great thing, and assured that other counties, including his home county Bomi, will try to replicate same.

He expressed confidence that Ebola will have “to leave us,” but noted that it requires collective efforts as the disease has no boundary between ordinary citizens and officials. The speaker urged Liberians to take safety measures seriously to break the chain, and donated US$500 to the district task force.