By Ohenenana Kofinipa
Desperate situations, it is said, require desperate remedies.
Consequently, the Liberia National Police have received marching orders to arrest anyone “who gives misinformation” on the deadly Ebola virus which has killed hundreds of Liberians since March this year, and still counting
“We will arrest people who give misinformation. Please do not get on the radio and say ‘Ebola is not real; you can take a bath with Ebola people; they are taking the people’s parts’. That is not correct”, said Justice Minister Christiana Tah, at a press conference in Monrovia.
“The media is a very powerful organ; we want to work with you; we respect you. Do not allow people to use your radio or good time; find out what they want to say.
“If they want to talk about Ebola ask them what kind of information they have. Do not be part of making our people more miserable. We need to give information but, the correct information andso, we will arrest people who deliberately misinform the public”, she added.
The mostly incurable deadly Ebola virus which was discovered in 1976 had, at the last count, killed almost 1000 people in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria since it broke out in Guinea in February 2014.
Among other desperate measures announced by the Minister in an attempt to cage the rampaging monster are:
- Police escort for health workers burying Ebola dead who are often stoned in some communities.;
- Confiscation of bush meat being sold in various markets in Liberia;
- Ban on bathing of dead bodies; and
- No over-crowding in vehicles and elevators.