I read an article in the Guardian praising Nigeria’s effort at battling the recent Ebola outbreak. Let me just use this opportunity to declare that either God is a Nigerian, He loves this country especially and/or He is preserving this nation for something powerful. When you think of how often Nigeria has been on the brink of collapse; rocked by crisis and catastrophe, and just when you are certain that this action will destroy our world, we are saved, you will agree with me.

A few days ago Liberia’s President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf wrote a heartfelt letter to the world over the Ebola crisis in her country. The letter was disseminated across the world, read out on the radio in her country. I read the letter and my heart really ached for her. I’ve always had great respect for Madam Sirleaf, I remember sitting in at a talk she gave when I was still at Berkeley. At the time, the economist Dambisa Moyo’s book, ‘Dead Aid’ was all over the news following an interview the author had done. Someone in the audience asked Madam Sirleaf her thoughts on stopping aid to Africa, after all, the questioner held, it would incentivize Africans to stop their culture of entitlement and dependency.

The question may have gotten a rise out of another African, I know my buttcheeks were already steadily separating from my seat in irritation. I was about to answer a question that wasn’t poised to me, when The Lady herself spoke. She didn’t raise her voice or seem remotely bothered as she elegantly schooled the young man. She explained that when she resumed power after a civil war that almost destroyed her nation, the budget for the entire nation was equivalent to that of a public high school in the questioner’s precious U.S of A. She genially asked him if he thought that might be sufficient to drag a struggling nation out of poverty, empower its men, educate its women, protect its children or safely birth its babies.

Suffice to say, the young man sat back in his seat looking abashed while Madam Sirleaf quietly waited for his answer as though her question was more factual than rhetorical. She had my respect, as the first female president in Africa, but on that day she won my admiration.

I pray God helps these nations because Ebola is a horrid, horrid disease. How can you help? DONATE! Doctors without Borders, the International and National Red Cross societies and a host of organizations are doing amazing, selfless, noble work in those countries. Let’s play our part by supporting their dedication. Your contribution is not only useful, it is ESSENTIAL! I donated to the Red Cross’s fund for Ebola and I know the money was used to fight this terrible disease. Btw, Nigerians, let’s remain alert and sanitary oh! ABEG, if Ebola returns to this nation we don enter one chance be that!!!!

“Dear World,

In just over six months, Ebola has managed to bring my country to a standstill. We have lost over 2,000 Liberians. Some are children struck down in the prime of their youth. Some were fathers, mothers, brothers or best friends. Many were brave health workers that risked their lives to save others, or simply offer victims comfort in their final moments…

There is no coincidence Ebola has taken hold in three fragile states – Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea – all battling to overcome the effects of interconnected wars. In Liberia, our civil war ended only eleven years ago. It destroyed our public infrastructure, crushed our economy and led to an exodus of educated professionals. A country that had some 3,000 qualified doctors at the start of the war was dependent by its end on barely three dozen. In the last few years, Liberia was bouncing back. We realized there was a long way to go, but the future was looking bright.Now Ebola threatens to erase that hard work. Our economy was set to be larger and stronger this year, offering more jobs to Liberians and raising living standards. Ebola is not just a health crisis – across West Africa, a generation of young people risk being lost to an economic catastrophe as harvests are missed, markets are shut and borders are closed.The virus has been able to spread so rapidly because of the insufficient strength of the emergency, medical and military services that remain under-resourced and without the preparedness to confront such a challenge. This would have been the case whether the confrontation was with Ebola, another infectious disease, or a natural disaster.But one thing is clear. This is a fight in which the whole world has a stake. This disease respects no borders. The damage it is causing in West Africa, whether in public health, the economy or within communities – is already reverberating throughout the region and across the world.The international reaction to this crisis was initially inconsistent and lacking in clear direction or urgency. Now finally, the world has woken up.

The community of nations has realized they cannot simply pull up the drawbridge and wish this situation away.This fight requires a commitment from every nation that has the capacity to help – whether that is with emergency funds, medical supplies or clinical expertise.I have every faith in our resilience as Liberians, and our capacity as global citizens, to face down this disease, beat it and rebuild. History has shown that when a people are at their darkest hour, humanity has an enviable ability to act with bravery, compassion and selflessness for the benefit of those most in need.From governments to international organisations, financial institutions to NGOs, politicians to ordinary people on the street in any corner of the world, we all have a stake in the battle against Ebola. It is the duty of all of us, as global citizens, to send a message that we will not leave millions of West Africans to fend for themselves against an enemy that they do not know, and against whom they have little defence.The time for talking or theorizing is over. Only concerted action will save my country, and our neighbours, from experiencing another national tragedy. The words of Henrik Ibsen have never been truer: “A thousand words leave not the same deep impression as does a single deed.

Yours sincerely,

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf”