Biblical Solutions for the Control of Contagious Diseases for a better Healthy Environment in Nigeria
Ishaya Mallo, Makpu
Department of Religious Studies, Faculty of Arts
Nasarawa State University, Keffi
Email: makpuishayamakpu@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Contagious diseases are contacted by contact with the affected victim and these include cholera, malaria, typhoid, measles, smallpox, chickenpox, leprosy, and HIV/AIDS. These diseases are prevalent in Nigeria. Thousand Nigerians die yearly of these diseases whose widespread nature are generally attributed to poor personal and community hygiene, poor education, economic, poverty, and poor facilities and infrastructures. There is the need to control the spread of contagious diseases. A close look at the Bible indicate that there is much the citizens can do to control the spread of contagious diseases at personal and community levels while waiting for supplementary efforts from the various sector of government. The study will utilize a contextual approach, explored selected divine commandments in the Bible that have bearing on the control of contagious diseases and their application for control of contagious diseases in Nigeria today. The study established the similarities between the life-settings of the Israelites and the contemporary Nigerian people. Therefore, there is relevance of the various divine injunctions explored to the contemporary situation in respect to the control of contagious diseases. Our findings indicate that God desires to be the central figure among his people. He desires his people to distinguish themselves through lifestyles that are in harmony with his commandments. God has identified that he is the healer of his people; he guarantees the personal communal and natural health and well-being of the Israelites, if his commandments are followed. Therefore, Nigerians could benefit by following these commandments.
Keywords: Solution Contagious, Environment, Divine, Commandment, Comparison
