To battle Ebola, churches and mosques fight superstition, alter rituals

[hrmjustin]

Fredrick Nzwili

NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) As the Ebola outbreak widens, churches in Africa have begun issuing new guidelines to prevent infection even as traditional healers continue to ply their herbs.

In Nigeria, Roman Catholics have begun giving Communion wafers in the palm of the hand rather than on the tongue.

Across West Africa, hand-washing buckets with soap and chlorine are strategically stationed at the entrances to worship centers.

http://www.religionnews.com/2014/08/22/churches-take-measures-prevent-ebola-traditional-healers-ply-herbs/

[Union Scribe]

1. Good to hear.

It's been gobsmacking as a Westerner to read about things like the clinic raid where people took off with patients, telling them they've been lied to about having Ebola. Education about the virus is so critical for the success of the campaign to fight it.