The 2014 Ebola Epidemic in Liberia
Previous Opinions About Epidemiological Diseases in West Africa/Liberia
The 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa has spiraled into the worst Ebola outbreak in history (Live Science, 2014). Since the viruses first appeared in 1976, there have only been twenty other Ebola outbreaks (Belluz, 2014). Of these twenty known outbreaks, the total reported cases reached 2,357 with 1,548 reported deaths (Belluz, 2014). Overall, these previous Ebola outbreaks had been quickly contained and throttled (Sun et al, 2014). This has not been the case for the 2014 outbreak. As of December 2nd, 2014, the current outbreak had a total of 17,290 reported cases with 6,128 reported deaths (CDC, 2014). It is believed that these totals are more like estimates and that the actual counts are potentially two to three times higher (CDC, 2014). From the numbers alone this current Ebola outbreak is historically significant. It has also highlighted major weaknesses in the national and international responses to the outbreak, especially in the country most affected by this outbreak, Liberia. These weaknesses and criticisms have been prevalent in the media, but especially within editorial cartoons. The editorial cartoons on the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Liberia are significant in writing the history of the epidemic due to the criticisms they make on the international and national response to it. This exhibition will contextualize the 2014 Ebola outbreak responses to that of previous responses to epidemiological diseases in Liberia, discuss the significance of using editorial cartoons to write history, provide historical background on Liberia, and then provide a collection of editorial cartoons that criticize the initial international and national responses to the outbreak.
Editorial Cartoons
Editorial cartoons can be significant in understanding historical events, such
as the HIV/AIDS epidemic and Ebola outbreak in West Africa. They draw attention to major social concerns that are occurring. Cartoons play vital role in sensitizing nations to events that are coming or occurring (Alegi & Limb, 2014). This is especially significant when dealing with major outbreaks such as HIV/AIDS and Ebola. Cartoons serve not only for entertainment value, but also for educational purposes on sensitive issues, such as HIV, other health issues, and educational issues (Alegi & Limb, 2014). They help raise awareness in the public on these concerning issues and sometimes use humor in order to appeal to the audience. There are limitations in cartooning in Africa, however. When working for African public newspaper there are restrictions placed on the messages in cartoons, for everything would have to go through an editor prior to publication (Alegi & Limb, 2014). While working for an African private newspaper, there is more freedom of expression, but the artist must remain conscious of the freedom of his readers (Alegi & Limb, 2014). Especially when commenting on political matters, there are limitations and the African cartoon artist must be wary of this (Alegi & Limb, 2014).
Cartoons are useful sources in writing history as well. These “cartoons hold the potential to serve as powerful historical sources that are as worthy of digitization as any ‘traditional’ historical sources” (Timbs, 2014). Images, such as cartoons, “exist to translate real human experience to the world” and “rescue meaning historically” (Ballou, 2014). When using images, such as cartoons, to write history, it is important to contextualize the image (Ballou, 2014). One must consider the source and understand the perspective and attitude towards the event (Ballou, 2014). The writer must also recognize their own perspective and understand how this may influence how they interpret the image (Ballou, 2014). With all this in mind, editorial cartoons can be useful in writing history.
Although this is the first Ebola outbreak in Liberia, the country already has a history of fighting contagious diseases. Previous authors have made commentaries on the international and national responses to major outbreaks in West Africa, such as HIV/AIDS.
Ebola is not the only epidemiological disease to plague West Africa; in fact, it may not even be the most important global health issue. The HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Sub-Saharan of African, of which West Africa is considered apart, “accounts for two-thirds of the HIV/AIDS cases in the world” (Caldwell & Caldwell, 1996, p. 566). That is, for “only comprising slightly under 15% of the total population of the world, Africans account for nearly 70% of those who live with HIV and are dying of AIDS” (Medwiser, N/A, p.1). The origins of this epidemic are believed to stem from West Africa, from which the first occurring incidents “were shrouded in secrecy” (Medwiser, N/A, p.1). Due to the level of poverty, underdeveloped health systems, and corruption in other infrastructures, international intervention was believed to
be necessary in order to bring the HIV/AIDS epidemic under control (Goliber, 2002). This resulted in organizations such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations to intervene (Goliber, 2002). There have been criticisms towards the World Health Organizations response for not being as vigorous as was necessary (Goliber, 2002). There have also been concerns of international aid being hampered due to “corruption within both donor agencies and government agencies, foreign donors not coordinating with local government, and misguided resources” (Medwiser, N/A). Many have made criticisms of the international and national responses to epidemiological outbreaks in West Africa, but few have used editorial cartoons to write the history of them.
The 2014 Ebola Epidemic is Unprecedented
Source: Vox/Vox/ 2014