Fight against Ebola

The highly infectious disease has also been confirmed in neighboring Nigeria. Ebola, a deadly tropical virus that causes severe fever and, in the worst cases, unstoppable bleeding, has claimed the lives of almost 900 people in four West African nations since the start of the year.

In Liberia, health facilities often lack medicines and qualified personnel to treat patients suffering from common diseases such as malaria. Therefore, detecting or diagnosing Ebola has become a major challenge for health workers. The often dire situation in the country's hospitals and health centers has prompted some people to turn to traditional healers.

High demand for traditional healers

Sampson Baffoe, a resident of Logan Town on the outskirts of the capital Monrovia, confirmed to DW that he often seeks the services of traditional healers when he is sick.

"Yes, I benefit from some. To my own experience and knowledge, traditional medicine is not a bad thing because every medicine derives from leaves or roots, which our forefathers preferred to use," he said.

Some residents of Logan Town have strong beliefs in traditional practices and billboards advertising the services of traditional healers are a common sight.

Dr. Peace Bello is one of the traditional healers in Logan town and runs a center for alternative therapy. As his billboard demonstrates (see picture above), he treats at least twenty complaints ranging from sexually transmitted diseases to bad dreams.

"The traditional medicine I use to heal people is extracted from roots. I heal patients with illnesses like fever, malaria, weak ejaculation or high blood pressure," Bello told DW. "I am able to treat these sicknesses and put them under control by the grace of God."

He added that he has not, so far, treated suspected Ebola cases. "Nobody has come to me to treat Ebola. I don't have any Ebola patient, and I don't have anything to cure an Ebola patient," he said.

Elizabeth Wobe is another traditional healer offering her services to the community in Logan town. Although she also has not come into contact with Ebola patients, she is aware of the dangers involved. She cautioned her fellow traditional healers against taking risks by attempting to use traditional medicines to cure Ebola.

"I will tell them not to do that because they have not tested it on anything - even on an animal - to know that that animal has been cured. So, it is not right for them to try that on humans."

Awareness through music

With the heightened awareness campaign about the deadly effects of the Ebola virus, both believers in traditional and modern healing techniques are now increasingly taking preventive measures.

A song about Ebola composed in an effort to raise public awareness is dominating the airwaves across Liberia. With lyrics like: "My people, it's real - let's stop it and prevent it. Ebola is here," it aims to increase sensitivity to the realities of the often fatal illness.

Since the start of this year, Liberia has had 468 confirmed Ebola cases, including 255 deaths. In recent days, Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf appealed to Liberians to observe above-average standards of hygiene and sanitation. She also warned that any price scalping for sanitation products like chlorine, soap or buckets would be prosecuted by the Ministry of Commerce.