(ANS - Siguiri) - Fr Rafael Sabé has been a missionary since 1992. Now he is experiencing firsthand the Ebola outbreak in one of the affected countries, Guinea Conakry. He is a member of the Anti-Ebola Group working for the Prevention of the illness in the Siguiri region. This is a team that brings together representatives of the civil, medical, business and religious authorities of the area. In an interview published on Zenit, Fr Sabé offers different insights into the nature of the virus. He also relates that people in Siguiri are praying for Teresa Romero - the Spanish nurse who is still infected - and he says that love can conquer fear.

Fr Sabé also talks about various aspects of his missionary vocation, revealing that it was the training received by the parents that brought him and his sister to enter religious life and to put self-giving and charity at the centre of their lives.

How long have you been in Africa and, more specifically, in Guinea Conakry?

Fr Sabé: After completing law studies I felt in my heart the desire to follow in the footsteps of Don Bosco as a Salesian. I have been in Africa since 1992, when I was assigned to Abidjan. I remained in Côte d'Ivoire until 2006, in Abidjan, Duékoué and Korhogo. In 2006 I was sent to Kara in Togo. And finally, in 2012, I arrived in Guinea Conakry, in Kankan and Siguiri.

What is the Anti-Ebola Group? Why is Guinea Conakry one of the more successful countries in controlling the virus?

Fr Sabé: It is a group made up of all the agencies in a territory: local authorities (mayors, congressmen), health authorities (doctors, nurses), representatives of the police, representatives of business and religious authorities - the Imam for Muslims and the priest for Christians. I am a Christian representative in the region of Siguiri. This group monitors directly the spread of Ebola in the region.  We hold regular meetings to reflect together on possible solutions.

Why is it difficult for people to accept the reality of the Ebola virus?

Fr Sabé: To combat Ebola you have to find the sick, isolate them completely and, in case of death, you have to bury them immediately. And this leads to opposition from the people. In the African tradition, death is one of the most important moments in the life of a human being. They feel the need to honour their dead. I know of one family that has lost nine members due to Ebola. Many were infected during the funeral ceremonies, but some have been cured. That is why the Prevention Group sees the need for outreach work to make people aware of the risks.

How do people there view the reaction in Europe?

Fr Sabé: People in Africa are surprised by the reaction of panic that exists in Spain. Here in Guinea, there have been about 778 deaths, but there has not been the same level of terror as in Spain. Certainly, in Africa we live very close to suffering, and this forges the character of the people. A few days ago I buried a 5 year old girl, who died of malaria. The girl's brothers were all present. There were tears of grief at the funeral and tears of love, but not of despair.

The full interview - in Spanish - is available on the website of Zenit.

Published 15/10/2014