It’s been barely six months since Nigeria was declared Ebola-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) and we all heaved a sigh of relief. But while we rest easy, it’s all too easy to rest on our oars and forget that the once dreaded disease, while being eliminated in Nigeria, is still very much around in other West African countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone; and in other parts of the world.

If you’re a woman, then the onus of keeping the family safe and healthy falls on you. Here are a few tips:

1)      Keep Conscious

Keep every member of the family in tune with the hygiene mantra. Encourage children to keep hands off railings, particularly in public places.

2)      Report

Continue to report any high fevers to the doctor as soon as possible. Try as much as possible to keep visibly ill persons from your home, including domestic staff

3)      Activism

Get the PTA to continue to provide soap and water at the school gate. Get other mothers to join this campaign

4)      Hygiene

Disinfect your entire home regularly. Get everyone to change shoes at the door. Keep hand sanitizers in strategic places. Change to soaps with disinfectant rather than just soap.

5)      Nutrition, Nutrition, Nutrition

You are what you eat, and this is even more so with building and keeping solid immune systems with your family. It’s up to you not only to provide a balanced diet rich in fruits and veggies, but to make sure your family consumes it.