(ANS – Freetown) – Sierra Leone is one of the three West-African countries in which the ebola virus is raging most severely. Salesian Brother Lothar Wagner works in the capital Freetown as director of the organisation Don Bosco Fambul. Every day he experiences directly the horrors the disease has caused. We publish below the first part of an interview he gave recently to the magazine Politico.

Brother Lothar, how do you experience the current situation in Sierra Leone?

Frustrating as far as the international political aid is concerned. We could have avoided this ordeal if the Western World had reacted early and adequately. Up to now the only doctors and epidemic experts in the country are those from China and Cuba. However, they give us a lot of hope. The people are upset and simply frightened. Infected persons and suspect cases are stigmatised.

How has the situation evolved in recent months?

In the beginning the situation was carelessly underrated, later inexcusably ignored. There were traditional witchcraft rites and politically motivated accusations. All this is now culminating in a depressive despondency that has seized the people. We now hope that with international help we can win the battle against the epidemic and make a fresh start.

What is the general mood in the country?

It depends on the location. I have just returned from Port Loko where I visited an orphanage. It is under quarantine due to the fact that the person in charge visited the funeral of an ebola victim. Thirty-nine children and employees are left to their own devices. Stigmatization, fear and a strong belief in witchcraft prevail, particularly in the rural areas. The people believe that the sick people are being punished for bad deeds. In Freetown, the capital, the population is better informed about the epidemic. Nevertheless fear prevails here too – in and around the city everyone is particularly on the alert. “No body contact!” is a cry often heard in the streets.

Who suffers most from the epidemic?

Firstly, the sick people themselves, of course, but also all the suspect cases who are placed in quarantine. All in all, these groups are met with hostility by the population. People in quarantine receive little food or other important aids. Due to our hotline and the emergency shelter, we at Don Bosco Fambul are in close contact with the children and youths. We witness their fate at firsthand. In doing so, we are really approaching our limits. Those who suffer most are the children who saw their parents die and have ended up as orphans, but also the boys and girls who were infected but healed and are now outcast by their families. And then there are, of course, the helpers themselves. We have to be highly alert that all the safety precautions are complied with so that they do not experience the trauma themselves.

What does your day look like in Sierra Leone at the moment?

Particularly important to me is the half-hour meditation in the morning – God and I alone. This is very intense and provides me with strength for the whole day. I put everything under the protection of Mary Help of Christians. This is no social romanticism. We experience her tangible assistance and protection at these difficult times. Many quick prayers during the day often replace my Liturgy of the Hours. Apart from that I am responsible for all the safety and security measures at our houses, the contacts with the government and our partners and the project management. Besides, crisis intervention is one of my daily duties.

Published on 21/10/2014