Journal of Development Communication And Applied Theatre

The 2014 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Nigeria served as a critical test of the nation's public health infrastructure, a crisis immortalized in Steve Gukas's film 93 Days. While the successful containment of the virus has been documented, a systematic analysis of the health and allied issues reflected in this cinematic narrative remains underexplored. This qualitative study fills this gap by examining 93 Days as a cultural text to uncover its echoes of the systemic challenges and societal responses during a public health emergency. Employing content and thematic analysis, the film is analyzed to investigate its portrayal of the 2014 Ebola outbreak. The research identifies and explores critical themes, including infection prevention and control, healthcare worker safety, ethical dilemmas, leadership and governance, and community engagement. Situated within the framework of Social Cognitive Theory, the study also considers the film's role in modeling behaviors and raising public awareness. The findings reveal that 93 Days offers profound insights into the strengths and vulnerabilities of Nigeria's healthcare system, highlighting both the heroism of health workers and the systemic inadequacies that exacerbate crises. The study concludes that cinematic representations like 93 Days are valuable tools for understanding the complex socio-cultural and systemic dimensions of health crises. It underscores the film's significance not only as a historical record but also as a catalyst for dialogue on improving preparedness, policy, and community resilience for future public health emergencies.

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