AFRICA/SIERRA LEONE - Archbishop of Freetown: “at each mass I speak about Ebola and how to avoid infection”

Tuesday, 9 September 2014

Freetown (Agenzia Fides) – “Ebola is such a virulent virus that it is not easily treated; only experts can run the test to identify the virus and determine the stage of the infection. Therefore the Catholic Church, through our national and diocesan Caritas offices, has undertaken community sensitization exercises, both inside and outside the Church. This includes the sensitization of the people about Ebola, its more obvious symptoms, how it is passed from person to person and how it can be prevented. We the bishops have also been involved in the sensitization. For instance, at each Mass I have talked about the Ebola epidemic, how the virus is contracted and passed on to other persons, and the methods of keeping oneself and others safe.” This testimony was sent to Fides by H.E. Archbishop Edward Tamba Charles, Catholic Archbishop of Freetown, capital of Sierra Leone, one the African nations most affected by the Ebola virus. According to the latest indications, people have been asked to stay in their homes for four days 18 to 21 September, to prevent further spread of contagion and to monitor the situation.
A statement issued by the nation’s Ministry of Health and Sanitation on 6 September lists 260 survived and discharged patients, 23 confirmed new cases, 414 confirmed deaths, 1,234 confirmed cases. The Ministry also says that 16 of the 20 ambulances ordered by the Government of Sierra Leone to intensify Ebola response activities have arrived in country.
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation and UNICEF have taught religious leaders basic techniques on how to avoid being infected and these have been presented to the Church members and other communities. Precautions include avoiding body contacts, regular hand-washing with soap or chlorine, distribute dettol and buckets to communities, teaching them how to prepare the chemicals properly to avoid other health hazards. chlorinated water and use of approved hand sanitizers. “ In this regard”, Archbishop Tamba Charles affirms , “we have abolished hand-shaking during the sign of peace at Mass and we now distribute Holy Communion in the hand until the virus is put under control. We also put chlorinated water or water treated with dettol at Church doors for the faithful to wash their hands before entering the Church for Mass. The Muslims are also doing the same in the mosques”. The Archbishop underlines that the local Catholic Church’s emergency response is in two directions : sensitization and distribution of sanitary materials. “The Church's second contribution is the distribution of chlorine, plastic buckets with taps to communities, the Archbishop continues - With the support of our development partners, like Caritas Internationalis, CRS, CAFOD, Trocaire (Irish Catholic NGO), etc, our Caritas has been able to accompany sensitization exercises with the distribution of chlorine, dettol and buckets to communities, teaching them how to prepare the chemicals properly to avoid other health hazards.”
“The Ebola epidemic is still with us – the Archbishop of Freetown concludes -. Therefore we will continue the sensitization exercises. We will also continue our collaboration with the other religious leaders, both Christians and Muslims, because the religious leaders are still held in high esteem in the country and our congregations cut across all boundaries: race, tribe, region, etc.”. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 09/09/2014)


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