(ANS - Monrovia) - The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the current outbreak of the Ebola virus an "international emergency", thus deserving of extraordinary care and preventive  measures. In Liberia, a country which, together with Sierra Leone and Guinea, had the greatest spread of the virus, the Salesians are active among the population in order to promote the appropriate prophylactic measures, and also supporting the needy with prayer.

"During the two Masses celebrated last Sunday -August 3, in the parish of the Holy Innocents in Matadi, Monrovia, time was given for the intervention of a doctor to inform parishioners on how to prevent infection by the virus and how to behave in case of infection," reports Don Nicola Ciarapica, an Italian missionary in Africa for many years, first in Nigeria, now in Liberia. "The citizens are mobilizing themselves. At the entrance of shops, churches or even the gas stations there are buckets of water mixed with soap and chlorine. In fact, before entering, it is obligatory to wash your hands "

Unfortunately the infection, which in Liberia began last March, with some cases restricted to a defined area, has escaped human control and has now reached the city of Monrovia. In a short time the situation has become so dangerous not only for the unprepared citizens, who have taken lightly the information broadcasts from the radio, but also for the health care facilities. Even the hospitals were the major sites of spreading the epidemic.

After the news about the first doctors who had contracted Ebola, there followed a time when it was difficult to find a doctor at the assigned posts and many hospitals where cases of contamination have been registered, have  closed down, including the Catholic Hospital.

"Thanks to the six days of respite from the rains, it was possible to organize meetings with people from different neighborhoods and inform them how to prevent infection of the Ebola virus," adds Don Ciarapica.

Among the actions taken to minimize infection, were the closing down of services and the order to have a vacation for everyone. Even the oratory and the Salesian youth center was closed, the activities planned by the Salesian Youth Movement have been cancelled, while the Salesian parish is preparing ordination of the second Liberian Salesian, scheduled for next August 23. For the rest, everything is reduced to a minimum: Mass, administering the sacraments and prayer times.

"At 18:30, we recite the Rosary together with some of the young men and boys. We entrust to the Lord and the Virgin Mary, in a special way, all patients affected by the Ebola, and for those who are willing to care for them. We make our own, the appeal of the disciples on the boat amidst the waves of the Sea of ​​Galilee, 'Lord, do you not care that we are sinking?' We are united around Jesus Christ and present to Him the request that our faith may grow and become at least like a mustard seed that can move mountains, "concludes Don Ciarapica.

Posted on 11/08/2014