United Nations’ Integrated
Regional Information Networks (IRIN) in this report spoke with experts and
victims on whether male survivors of Ebola should abstain from sex or use
condom.
Male Ebola survivors in Liberia
are being warned by local health authorities to abstain from sex for at least
three months after being discharged from treatment centres, over fears the
virus can still be passed on, even once the person has been given a clean bill
of health.
“When you survive from Ebola, you
need to wait until after three months before you have sex,” a public service
announcement tells radio listeners in Monrovia. “If you don’t wait, you will
infect your wife and she will get Ebola.”
The Ministry of Health and Social
Welfare is spreading similar abstinence messages nationwide via TV spots,
billboards and word of mouth.
“I am glad the health workers
have taken to the airways to educate people about this,” said Musu Tuan, a
mother of four from Monrovia. “I think this is a serious situation and it could
make the virus stay longer in the country.”
There are now more than 500 Ebola survivors in
Liberia, according to the Ministry of Health
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