No people have been infected by the virus but the country is working on prevention. Francis is praying for all Africans who are suffering from Ebola
GEROLAMO FAZZINI milan The Catholic Church is also doing its bit to help Guinea Bissau fight the fearsome Ebola virus which has hit neighbouring countries Guinea Conakry, Liberia and Sierra Leone hard. The number of victims has now exceeded 2,600. 700 new Ebola cases emerged in Western Africa in recent days, while just three weeks ago the World Health Organisation (WHO) counted 500 new cases each week. According to the most recent figures published by WHO on 18 September, 5,800 people have now been infected. 318 of them are health workers and half of these infections have been fatal.Fr. Alberto Zamberletti, Superior of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign missions (PIME) and a doctor with over 30 years of experience working in the country explained that “no Ebola cases have been recorded yet in Guinea Bissau. But given that it shares its southern and eastern border with Guinea Conakry and bearing in mind that there is mobility in the area, the government has taken measures to control migration flow and reinforce healthcare structures.” An intense awareness campaign is being developed in collaboration with Caritas Guinea Bissau, the Commission for Justice and Peace and Radio Sol Mansi, founded by Fr. Davide Sciocco (currently PIME’s Vicar General). Zamberletti himself is now heading the campaign.
In the past, fatality rates reached 90% in Western Africa’s Ebola hotspots. The Ebola death toll has now dropped to just over 50%. But the silent massacre continues and requires very tough prevention methods.
For this reason, Guinea Bissau’s bishops, Camnate from Bissau and Zilli from Bafatá, have sent a letter out to all Christian communities. The letter praises the efforts made by the government, international organisations and religious communities and urges faithful to take all necessary measures to prevent the spread of the virus. They offer practical advice, suggesting that: buckets with water and disinfectant be placed at the entrance of churches and meeting places so that people can wash their hands; gatherings are avoided and that people refrain from exchanging the sign of peace during mass celebrations. Communion should only be given in hand.
Guinea Bissau is one of the poorest countries in the world and the condition of its health structures is very precarious: if the Ebola virus reached Guinea Bissau, the country’s few hospitals would not be able to cope. Nevertheless, despite widespread uncertainty and fear, bishops sent out words of encouragement to the people: “Trusting in the God of life, we face this challenge with courage and foresight,” their statement reads.
Meanwhile, in his address to Ghana’s bishops during their visit ad limina to the Vatican, the Pope said his prayers are with those in Africa who are suffering because of the Ebola virus. Francis remembered the victims of the epidemic and the amazing work being done by priests, men and women religious and health workers who have stood by the side of those infected, risking their own lives. The Pope said he hoped efforts would be intensified to stop this tragedy. In his address, the Pope urged bishops in African countries to manage the Church’s resources “honestly and responsibly”, particularly where “corruption has hindered the just advancement of society.”
At the same time, he said, “material poverty can be an occasion to draw greater attention to the spiritual needs of the human person.” Francis therefore is encouraging the local Church to nurture ecumenical and interreligious co-operation which “contributes to the social harmony” of a country. “Thankfully, Ghana has been spared much of the tribal, ethnic and religious divisions that have afflicted too many other parts of Africa,” the Pope continued. Finally, Francis prayed that bishops would “be ever greater promoters of unity and leaders in the service of dialogue!”
