The Ebola virus has immensely broken families, claimed 3,431 lives while simultaneously infecting over 7000 people (according to WHO).
However, what we can do to control the outbreak isn’t only limited to medical aid and financial facilitation. Due to the continuous reporting of the virus and the high rising death tolls, the public has harbored a stigma towards the virus which has resulted in extremely distorted thoughts and information on the virus.
Taking heed of this problem United Methodist Communications, the global communications agency of the United Methodist Church, collaborated with Chocolate Moose Media and iHeed to create an animation video that not only disbands common myths about the virus, but creatively goes back to the basics on preventing promotion.
The video unravels a gutting story of a family and an infected son that Ebola has usurped from them. The lad in the video advises the family on how to take care of themselves while resting all unto the hands of the volunteers from around the world, to take care of him.
Chocolate Moose Media founder and award-winning director Firdaus Kharas is hopeful that the video will be compelling enough to prevent the spread of Ebola. The compelling approach he took with infusing animation and storytelling will allow African viewers to speak to their own broader family.
Reverend Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist Communications, stated that the goal of the project is to provide education that leads to a better understanding to prevent infections. “Ebola gains foothold in poor communities where mistrust, resistance to proper care and lack of understanding of the virus and is widespread. The church’s advantage lies in its network of trusted leaders who live in the affected regions.” He further stated.
The video is already spreading like wildfire across the social media streets, through international organisations, NGO’s, civil societies and churches using their platforms with the hash tag #Ebolavideo. It is also available in different dialects namely french, pigdin and krio. Watch the video below or access it here.
