Using Music to Fight Ebola in Liberia

Over 2,400 people have died from the deadly disease of Ebola. It may not be the most obvious subject to write a song about, but health officials are using this song to help educate Liberians on how to contain the spread of this disease. The song is called "Ebola is Real" and it urges people to take the measure on doing things such as washing their hands to try and stop the spread of this deadly disease.

Chorus: "Ebola is real, its time to protect yourself, Ebola is real, protect your family, Ebola is real, protect you community."

The song sings about how Ebola is a disease that spreads fast. It is a disease that can't be cured but can be treated and that you can catch the disease by direct contact with bodily fluids such as blood, saliva and sweat. It also says that when a person dies from this disease do not touch the body with your bare hands. You can call a health worker who will help bury the body with protective clothes and gloves.

UNICEF spokesman Christophe Boulierac said that "music is an integral part of life" across Africa. He describes that they use music as a way to et information to spread around a large area of people. They put the song on the radio so the whole population of people are able to hear the news and be aware of the disease and how to prevent people from getting it.

UNICEF chose to work with Liberia's cultural ambassador Julie Endee and some well known musicians. The style of the music is known as Hipco and the song has been successful as it played across the country. "Some people even use it as a ring tone" said Christophe Boulierac. Because the people are enjoying the song and it is something they want to listen to, they want to get involved in preventing this disease. This is a way of communicating with everybody, and getting everybody in on the fight against Ebola.