1/ W/Ebola in West Africa, there was a term 'Ebola business' that referred to the idea that Ebola was either made up or overblown & used as a way to enrich the already rich
We're facing our own version of 'Ebola business' w/the questioning of & antagonism to COVID strategies https://twitter.com/AbraarKaran/status/1260408433531994114
We're facing our own version of 'Ebola business' w/the questioning of & antagonism to COVID strategies https://twitter.com/AbraarKaran/status/1260408433531994114
2/ When Ebola hit DRC, the same term- despite being ~4500 miles away- was used for the same idea
That is to say that we - the US/West - are not exempt from the common human reactions to epidemics that have happened in recent outbreaks in other places https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/28355/to-defeat-the-ebola-outbreak-congo-must-also-overcome-popular-mistrust
That is to say that we - the US/West - are not exempt from the common human reactions to epidemics that have happened in recent outbreaks in other places https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/28355/to-defeat-the-ebola-outbreak-congo-must-also-overcome-popular-mistrust
3/ Just like when we faced similar distrust & antagonism w/Ebola response in other settings, we need to figure out how to address 'rumors' & reframe messaging & recommendations for COVID in the US/West
This is not a passive endeavor & requires expertise & ACTIVE engagement
This is not a passive endeavor & requires expertise & ACTIVE engagement
4/ In Guinea, we had people like @AnokoJulienne & Cheikh Niang- anthropologists -who understood context & built bridges w/communities to convey what was happening & needed to happen
It's arrogant to think we don't need the same analysis of our 'anthropological' reaction to COVID
It's arrogant to think we don't need the same analysis of our 'anthropological' reaction to COVID
5/ We can't let that reaction happen haphazardly just like we didn't when responding to Ebola in Guinea or DRC
We need to engage people's misunderstandings & work on re=shaping them to ensure appropriate habits & choices are taken up to curb COVID's spread
We need to engage people's misunderstandings & work on re=shaping them to ensure appropriate habits & choices are taken up to curb COVID's spread
6/ That's more important than ever given the political backdrop in this country...but also not impossible
We overcame something more severe when we stopped Ebola in Guinea - fresh from autocracy & a hotly contested election - just a few years ago... https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1508413
We overcame something more severe when we stopped Ebola in Guinea - fresh from autocracy & a hotly contested election - just a few years ago... https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1508413
7/ It's time for other voices. Many are saying & will continue to say what's needed in terms of technical -epidemiology, testing, etc - strategy
We also need anthropologists, social thinkers, politicians to address this epidemic & frame what we need to do TOGETHER to take it on
We also need anthropologists, social thinkers, politicians to address this epidemic & frame what we need to do TOGETHER to take it on