Mission Ebola A look into the situation of Sierra Leone

The scary journey and surviving the gun shots

Yes dear friends the journey was very scary almost watching like a thriller. The few days of cold weather in ROME left me and especially Fr. Anthony with some respiratory congestion. Fr. Anthony kept coughing even though we started some antibiotics. Well landed in the early hours at airport Lungi in Sierra Leone. There sight is not normal. You have to wash hands with chlorine water before you step inside the airport. As we want to observe the procedure we were the last to enter. As you enter a form is given to be filled we made sure to tick everything no. Fr. Anthony trying hard to control his cough as we proceed. As we reach the transit they ask you to look at the camera not to capture your face but to capture your temperature then you are asked to put your fingers on infra red again to capture your temperature. You get your passport back no sigh of relief yet there is a big line to meet a doctor . The doctor goes though the chart filled by you once again shoots you with infra-red gun to record the temperature and finally allows you to go. With a sigh of relief we come out of the airport. And on our way to Makeni which is another three and a half hour journey, there are checkpoints where they shoot you with the guns to record the temperature. Why is this gunshot so scary. If in case your temperature shows more than 38°F you will strait away be taken to a Holding Centre. This is a centre where all the suspected cases are bought and tested for Ebola if the test is negative you are released but with 21 days of quarantine period with a track of you. If the test comes positive you are sent to treatment centre. So whatever you may be having , high temperatures is very risky . So here people carry paracetamol and take to keep their temperatures low. It is scary every time they shoot you with a infra-red gun to look for the temperature. If the temperature is high you are led away with out any excuse.

Collateral damage / Cultural shift/ Ebolarization Whatever you want to call it there is a big impact of EBOLA on the life and culture of the people here.

NORMAL LIFE IS NO MORE NORMAL Ω .. untouchable is the code as of now. you are advised not to touch and keep a reasonable distance from the other. So when you meet any one no shaking of the hands. Ω .. In the public transport you need to maintain distance Ω .. Educational institutions schools collages are all closed down. Ω .. Trading is only from 9am to 6pm on week days on Saturday from 6am-to 12 in the noon and on Sunday no trading at all. Ω ..Evening 6pm to morning 9am there is curfew Religious practices disturbed In the church for example on a bench only three are allowed to sit. Ω ….As you enter the church instead of holy water you have chlorine water to wash your hands. Ω ….After the service in the church you are shot with infra-red for the temperatures. Ω….There is no giving of peace to each other as the custom is to shake hands during peace. Ω …No baptisms, no anointing of the sick, no weddings happening. Ω ….This time there is no Christmas vigil as people have to be at home before 6pm. If at all you want to have you need to have it before that. Most of the parishes are having only Christmas day service.

Yes even the religious practices are controlled by Ebola and life is practically Ebolarised.

FEAR OF QURENTAINED

The fear of quarantine is so deep there are some instances where the people have thrown out their own dear ones. Because if it is know that the person is from your home you will be quarantined for 21 days. Which means you can not get out of your home for 21 days. You may get some food and water but you know that may be enough. If in that period another member of the family develops symptoms that member is taken away and the quarantine period for family begins again from that day . So there are certain families that have spent few months in quarantine period.

THE CRY OF NOT BEING ABLE TO SAY GOODBYE TO THEIR DEAR ONES. When some one dies it is a very special , the mourning, is where the real ceremony takes place. “Funerals are major cultural events that can last for days, depending on the status of the deceased person,” . As the women “wail” and the men “dance,” the community takes time to “demonstrate care and respect for the dead.” The more important the person, the longer the mourning. When the ceremony is coming to a close, a common bowl is used for ritual hand-washing, and a final touch or kiss on the face of the corpse (which is known as a “a love touch”) is bestowed on the dead.

Ebola outbreak is connected to funerals . The vicinity around Kenema was home to a well-known and widely-respected traditional healer. She was famous for healing powers that even people from other borders came to her for help. Probably she became infected with the Ebola virus and died. Mourners came by the hundreds, also from other nearby towns, to honour her memory by participating in the traditional funeral and burial ceremony. Quick investigations by local health authorities suggested that

participation in that funeral could be linked to as many as 365 Ebola deaths.

So now all the burials are done by the by a burial team. Because of this situation to they are not able say goodbye to their dear ones and sometimes they do not even know where they are buried. The cry is loud and deep you can hear it in the silence.

SITUATION

As on 19th of December the total number of Ebola cases are 8880 this includes suspected, probable, and confirmed cases. There are 2529 deaths related to Ebola and again this includes suspected, probable and confirm encases. The total population of Sierra Leone is only 63,48,350 which means a little more than the half of Bangalore city’s population, imagine 2500 people are dying just in Bangalore yes that is the impact. The interesting thing is1326 confirmed case have been discharged so thank GOD more people are surviving. The lady in the picture is a survivor and they get a certificate.

POST— EBOLA CRISIS

The impact of Ebola will not stop with Ebola infection but will keep disturbing Sierra Leone for long.

—Ebola has left lot of Orphan children.. Some lost single parent some lost both, some are looked after by the eldest sibling others left with grand parents. — Affected families go through lot of depression —-STIGMA & DISCRIMINATION yes the Survivors of Ebola face stigma and discrimination in the society. In fact the survivor is immuned and he/she does not transmit infection. —- STIGMA & DISCRIMINATION of the members of the burial team as these members are directly getting in contact with Ebola virus. —There is increase in the teenage pregnancies'…..probably reason could be closing down schools and colleges and life which is stagnant.

So the impact of Ebola will keep hunting Sierra Leone for some time.

NEWS

We participated in the workshop on psycho-social and pastoral issues conducted by CARITAS. The main resource person was Monsingor Robert J.Vitillo of caritas international.

We also witnessed the Apostolic Visitof His Eminence Cardinal PETER TURKSON president of the pontifical council for Justice and Peace. Who was here as a convoy of POPE to tell the people that we are with you, and to thank the church and religious for what they have been doing to Sierra Leone and to encourage and support all the activities done to stop Ebola.

Fr. Anthony at a new care centre that was inaugurated run by SMA fathers.

Now we are trying to push the Holy spirit Hospital to reopen so that the common people will have an asses to get treated for health problems other than Ebola. The equipment for lab to test Ebola is ready but has not arrived As there is no space in the flight to carry it , there are very few flights flying to Sierra Leone.

PRAYER God our loving father, we come to you in need of your power and protection.

Defend us from Ebola and other diseases that made many to suffer

And have claimed the lives of many people.

We ask your divine healing to restore health To all those who are suffering from this Ebola,

Grant them the strength to endure the pain of their sickness And experience the consolation of your presence.

We pray for those who are in medical profession Who must treat and care for those who contact the disease.

May they have grace of competence and compassion To minister and heal the sick.

Grant those who are working in Ministry of Health and Sanitation To act responsibly for the good and well-being of all people.

May their expertise on health be listened to and followed by all.

Bestow upon us the grace of faith and hope That you watch over us with love and providence

And that your will for us is always good.

This we pray through your son, Jesus Christ, our divine healer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and

ever . Amen

This is the prayer that is prayed in all the churches yes we can join be together in prayers.