Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Makeni (Agenzia Fides) - The emergency of Ebola in Africa, in particular in Sierra Leone, Guinea Conakry and Liberia, also involves at the forefront the Camillian religious. A few days ago Father John Toai left for a visit to Liberia, and the Consultant General, Father Aris Miranda, for the diocese of Makeni in Sierra Leone. From the analysis and comparison of the objective data collected on site and from their testimonies, a dramatic picture was highlighted.
According to the religious, Ebola is just a terrible aggravating circumstance of a more complex situation of longstanding civil wars, corruption, disintegrating civil, religious and political leadership. In three months three ministers of health alternated in Sierra Leone. All this led to the collapse of a health system which is already very fragile and unprepared, where even the basic instrumentation for diagnostic screening of the infection is lacking.
The situation is aggravated by the fact that the virus is having a severe impact in the most densely populated large urban centers.
In this context, the Camillians say, one dies of Ebola, but also due to ignorance, malaria and childbirth because, for fear of further infections and no means for a rapid diagnosis of the infection, the few hospitals present have been closed and the dead for endemic tropical diseases have increased exponentially. Access to basic therapies and vaccines, at the cost of a few dollars, remains a mirage for the majority of the population. Trade in goods has slowed and inflation is increasing prices.
The commitment of the Camillians in the hospital in Makeni provides support for the evaluation of the conditions for the reopening of the diocesan Holy Spirit hospital as well as the support for the work of the Church, providing pastoral and counseling support. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 29/10/2014)
