The current Ebola outbreak taking place in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Nigeria have been compounded by the bad health care systems available in these countries. The deaths that have been recorded so far have happened not just because the disease is deadly but rather because of insufficient means to help with its containment. Hospitals that were supposed to be places where such diseases are arrested instead became deathtraps for many and now some of these hospitals have been closed while Ebola patients are turned away from others to die of the disease in their villages. The spread of the disease has been enhanced by deadly rumors rather than facts because the health care system does not have an authoritative voice among the people. Even preachers like the popular Nigerian, T. B. Joshua, who is noted for his healing ministry, has warned those infected with Ebola to stay away from his church. Thus, the health care system and even the spirituality on which many Africans have relied is now failing them. No wonder there is so much fear about the spread of the disease.
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