By Yunus Olawale
The Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), through its Health Committee, has organised a public health webinar to sensitise Muslims and the general public on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), emphasising that the fight against infectious diseases requires medical knowledge, personal responsibility and adherence to religious principles on the preservation of life.
The webinar, held on Sunday, November 1, 2026, featured the theme, “Ebola Virus Disease: Protecting Lives, Families and Communities – A Medical and Islamic Perspective.”
The programme brought together Islamic and medical experts to address Ebola transmission, symptoms, prevention, treatment, misinformation and stigma, while examining the role of faith and religious communities in promoting public health.
Speaking at the webinar, Sheikh Dr. Ridwanullah Jamiu, Chief Imam of Lekki Central Mosque, Lagos State, highlighted the significance of cleanliness and personal hygiene in Islam, describing purity as an essential aspect of the faith. He explained that the regular ablution Muslims perform before prayers, alongside other purification practices, demonstrates Islam’s emphasis on cleanliness and personal hygiene.
According to him, Muslims are encouraged to maintain cleanliness through their daily religious practices, which can also contribute to healthier individuals and communities. The cleric stressed the importance of regular handwashing, personal hygiene and seeking medical attention whenever one becomes ill. He urged Muslims to seek treatment through permissible (halal) means, noting that religious beliefs should not prevent individuals from accessing appropriate healthcare.
Sheikh Jamiu also cautioned against stigmatising people affected by infectious diseases, calling for compassion, understanding and support for patients and their families. He encouraged members of the Muslim Ummah to prioritise preventive healthcare and adopt responsible practices to protect themselves and others.
*Ebola spreads through direct contact with infected body fluids*
In his presentation, Professor Sunday Omilabu, a Consultant Virologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), explained that Ebola spreads primarily through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person, particularly after symptoms develop.
According to the presentation, transmission may occur when infected fluids enter the body through broken skin or the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose or mouth. Contaminated materials, including needles, bedding and clothing, can also contribute to transmission. He identified blood, vomit, diarrhoea, urine, saliva, sweat, breast milk and semen among body fluids that may carry the virus.
His presentation further highlighted households where family members care for sick relatives and healthcare facilities with inadequate infection-prevention measures as settings where transmission risks can be particularly high. He emphasised that people are not infectious before symptoms begin, making early identification, isolation, medical care and contact tracing critical to interrupting transmission.
*Early medical intervention can save lives*
The virologist challenged misconceptions that Ebola is invariably fatal or untreatable, noting that advances in research and medical care have improved the prospects of survival. He discussed the availability of vaccines for certain Ebola virus species, ongoing vaccine research and the importance of supportive medical care, including fluid and electrolyte management. It stressed that early presentation at a treatment centre can significantly improve outcomes, urging people not to delay seeking medical attention because of fear or misinformation. And he warned against hiding suspected cases or attempting self-medication, explaining that concealment can facilitate further transmission.
Individuals who suspect Ebola infection were advised to avoid direct contact with the sick person’s body fluids, notify public health authorities and cooperate with trained healthcare and contact-tracing teams.
*Stigma and misinformation threaten public health response*
Professor Omilabu also raised concerns about stigma and misinformation, describing fear and rejection as factors that can undermine efforts to contain outbreaks. Fear of discrimination may cause families to conceal illnesses or conduct unsafe burials, potentially exposing more people to infection, he declared.
He explained that Ebola survivors who have recovered and been discharged from medical care should not be rejected or subjected to stigma. The presentation urged communities to replace fear and discrimination with compassion, reliable information and responsible health practices.
Prof. Omilabu addressed common misconceptions about Ebola, including claims that the disease spreads through the air or that every infected person must experience bleeding. He clarified that Ebola transmission is primarily associated with direct contact with infected body fluids and that bleeding is not present in every patient and also stressed the importance of distinguishing ordinary contact with recovered survivors from situations involving active infection.
*Safe burial practices and Nigeria’s outbreak preparedness*
The virologist highlighted the importance of safe and dignified burial practices during Ebola outbreaks, noting that the bodies of people who have died from the disease can remain highly infectious. Warned that unsafe burial practices have contributed to transmission in previous outbreaks, urging communities to cooperate with trained response teams.
He also referenced Nigeria’s experience in containing Ebola in 2014, highlighting the importance of rapid response, contact tracing, public communication and community cooperation. He noted that Nigeria’s previous response demonstrated how early intervention and coordinated public health measures could help prevent an outbreak from escalating.
He also discussed the response to an imported Ebola case associated with travel from Uganda in October 2026, outlining the activation of national incident management arrangements, contact tracing, laboratory confirmation and infection-prevention measures. The response included identifying and monitoring contacts, providing protective equipment for healthcare workers and collaborating with international health partners and emphasised that an imported case does not automatically constitute an epidemic and that vigilance, accurate information and cooperation with public health authorities remain essential.
*Faith and medicine in protecting lives*
The webinar reinforced the importance of integrating religious teachings with sound medical advice in addressing public health challenges. The speakers emphasised that protecting human life, maintaining cleanliness, seeking medical treatment and preventing harm to others are responsibilities shared by individuals and communities.
The MUSWEN Health Committee said the initiative was designed to provide reliable medical information, address myths and misinformation, challenge stigma and promote Islamic teachings on the preservation of life. And the programme underscored the need for religious leaders, healthcare professionals and community members to work together in promoting health awareness and preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
The webinar concluded with a call for Muslims and the general public to prioritise personal hygiene, seek timely medical care, avoid misinformation and demonstrate compassion towards people affected by disease. The webinar reaffirmed the importance of knowledge, faith, responsible healthcare practices and community solidarity in protecting lives, families and communities.