As Ebola ravages communities in and outside Africa, many West African families in New York City are confronting new financial struggles and the fear of stigmatisation.
Beyond the heartbreak of losing family members to the disease, diaspora West African natives from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, the three countries most affected by the disease, are working harder to support families who are being forced by the governments to stay in their homes as a strategy to slow the spread of the disease in those countries.
Mohammed Jabadeh, 27, a New York City tour bus employee from Liberia with a wife and two young children, said he lost a sister in-law and a two month old niece in Liberia in the last two weeks. Since the outbreak started, 14 members of his family have died, and others are getting sick, including one of his brothers.
“It’s actually heartbreaking to me because that’s one of my brothers I love very much,” Jabadeh said
Sitting on a bench at Behagen Playground in the Bronx, dark skinned, 6 feet 2inches tall, a wristband around his left wrist with the lettering ‘Ebola must go’, Mr. Jabadeh looked like a grief stricken child.
He said that he has been sending more money home to encourage his family to stay indoors, and doing so makes life more difficult for him in New York City. “You have to work extra hard in America and send them enough money so that they can have enough foodstuff,” he said.
Among the West African communities in New York City, there is a growing fear of being linked to Ebola simply because of where they were born.
“If our family members come from Africa and come to stay with us, say I came from Guinea and I have fever, I may be scared going to the hospital because they may treat me the same way and it is really traumatising,” said Fatima Diallo 28, the Co-ordinator of Miss Guinea U.S.A.
She said she is confused and worried about her father who lives in Guinea.
“What do I do to protect my father, do I say leave the country because the situation is there? I can’t say that because some borders are actually closed.”
Ms. Diallo had planned to travel to Guinea in August but had to cancel the trip because of the unpredictable schedule of many airlines to that area. “I don’t want to go to Guinea and be stuck” she said.
The fear of been stranded isn’t the only reason travel plans are been cancelled. Charles Cooper, a 33-year old from Liberia, who is chairman of the African Advisory Council to the Bronx Borough President, said he had planned to go back home for the both leisure and business in December but has changed his mind. “I believe it will not be safe by then, I am afraid of getting Ebola.”
For Mr. Cooper, cancelling the trip means losing money. It also is a setback for the business investment he was pursuing in Liberia.
Despite the apprehension among families of those affected by the disease, there has been a significant rise in the number of organized events to increase awareness among diaspora Africans while also raising funds for families in affected countries.
“We need to do more; we need to come together as a community to fights this issue,” Mr. Cooper said. “Only through this can we resolve what’s going on.”
The Ebola Solidarity football match and Prayer vigil held at the weekend was part of the funding raising initiative, many more are lined up for the coming days and weeks.
“I know it’s in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone but at this point it doesn’t matter because it is West Africa” said Usman Gaye 34, from Gambia, he believes as Africans showing solidarity is the right thing to do.
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KINGSLEY AMAYO contributed this piece from New York
