ONE M ILLION BATS IN ABEI
The roof of the Abei Health Centre had started
collapsing, yet government officials didn't have a clue
of what had befallen the facility. A swarm of bats,
estimated to be nearly one-million, colonized the
Centre for several months, weakening its structure and
creating a serious health risk, including bat-born
infections like rabies and Ebola.
Volunteer community corruption monitors submitted a
report about the bats to CAP and the issue was
subsequently brought to the attention of concerned
local leaders during a community meeting. Key
government officials and public health workers were
surprisingly unaware of the problems facing the Centre
and were invited for a firsthand experience of the
problem. The media was also invited to document the
scene, providing further visibility of the issue on
national television.
As a result of enormous public pressure, community
leaders have apologized for their negligence and
fumigated and repaired the facility. Today, all the bats
have been driven away and the health center has
returned to operational condition.
PICTURED LEFT, FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: Some of the bats living in the health center
roof. Local leaders watching the bats fly out of the health center during an official
investigation. Part of the health center roof destroyed by the infestation.
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