(ANS - Monrovia) - "We were able to meet many families in our mission and the Lord is really doing great things. Some of those we helped were discharged from hospital a few days ago because they are now healed from Ebola, after following the advice we had given them in our house-to- house visits.” Thus begins the latest report given by Josaphat, the leader of the Don Bosco & Dominic Savio group, which is working in the villages of Liberia to help prevent and defeat Ebola.

"The situation of the country at this time is nothing short of pitiful. There is a need to intensify our prayers and initiatives: prayer and work. Prayer without serious work is dead," says Josaphat.

Their last trip was not easy. Malicious rumours circulated that they planned to poison the wells, and as a result, when they arrived at Gwaa in the county of Bomi, the young people of the Don Bosco & Dominic Savio group were arrested and held in custody by the local police. They were interrogated and some families they had visited previously were questioned.

Even photos of previous expeditions, which they were able to show on their phones, were not sufficient to prove their innocence.  The police were convinced of their good intentions only when they forced the young men to use on themselves the material they had brought. "We did it by washing our hands and face with the sanitary material. We were then given a prolonged and sincere public apology. The news that had earlier come from Guinea, where some health workers were put to death during one of their house-to-house visits for the prevention of Ebola, had made us fear the worst. But the Lord has truly protected and saved us. It was not easy for the group to overcome this trauma, but little by little I tried to make them understand that our goal is to do what we do for the Lord and to save as many lives as possible," said Josaphat.

According to experts, there is a good chance of survival if the Ebola sufferer receives appropriate treatment, especially through:

• Blood transfusions: anyone who has been cured is encouraged to donate, as their blood is important in treating others who are affected;
• Good nutrition: it facilitates and speeds up healing;
• Beds and mattresses: there are more patients than sick beds. This means that some new patients are not accepted in the hospital and so inevitably they spread the disease;
• Personal health: there is an urgent need for more health care workers in hospitals (and consequently of wages for them);
• Protective material: essential for anyone who takes care of the sick.

Josaphat and his group have therefore decided to direct their help especially for these purposes. They will now channel donations received from abroad or collected locally to the initiative of Caritas (Archdiocese of Monrovia), which is able to reach directly those who can make best use of those resources.

Published 30/09/2014