Ministry of Health official says cultural practices still pose a major challenge in the fight against the deadly Ebola virus.
Rev. John Sumo, head of the National Social Mobilization Taskforce of the Ministry of Health, said the continuous laying of hands and ritual performances by people prior to
burying dead relatives was a serious impediment in the ongoing fight against Ebola.
Speaking at the Information Ministry daily Ebola briefing Wednesday, Rev. Sumo stressed that unless such practices were halted by traditional and religious leaders, gains made in the fight against Ebola could be reversed.
“Our recent data on counties reporting Ebola cases shows that most places where cases come from are highly religiously and traditionally-centered,” he asserted.
“Prevent yourself so that together we can all preserve Liberia. It is the only country that we have and if we continue to be as we are, we will not win this fight any time soon,” he added.
Latest reports from the Ministry of Health suggest that six counties-Cape Mount, Nimba, Margibi Montserrado, Bong and Sinoe are still reporting new cases of Ebola.
Another discussant, Rev. Peter Kollie, National Superintendent of the Wesleyan Church of Liberia said -“As watchmen of the gate, you are aware that prayers done in faith have no distance, and as such you are urged to stop laying hands on the sick."
He quoted the Bible as saying: “There is a time and season for everything," adding, Liberians are in very critical times, so it’s not mandatory that religious and traditional leaders lay hands before deliverance takes place.”