The Bishop of Chester has launched an appeal to help partner dioceses combat the “dreadful” Ebola virus now active in Africa.
Ebola virus disease is a serious, rare infection usually found in certain parts of Africa. It is caught by coming into contact with the body fluids of an infected person or wild animal.
An epidemic of Ebola was reported in the Ituri Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) last month, the 17th Ebola outbreak in the DRC and only five months after the end of the previous outbreak.
The epidemic is caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, while treatments were created for a different strain, the Zaire ebolavirus. The outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization on 16th May.
There had been 196 confirmed deaths in DRC, and two deaths in Uganda as of the third week of June.
There is currently no cure and no vaccine for the particular variety of Ebola and the mortality rate for those infected is between 20% and 50% on current information.
The outbreak is mainly in Ituri province where Chester Diocese’s partner dioceses of Aru and Boga serve.
Bishop William of Boga Diocese has said: “We have lost many of our loved ones so far, and the number of deaths continues to rise.
“The Church, as a watchman, has the duty to blow the trumpet. (We are) present in every corner of the territory, in every family, and we manage health and education programs in more than 60% of its structures in the region (health centres, hospitals and schools).”
Chester’s Bishop Mark Tanner said: “We stand with our sisters and brothers in Boga and Aru Dioceses.
“It has been good to send a gift already, good to know that the motorbikes we have funded will be playing their part, great to pray, but also right that we give further support as we are able.”
Both Archbishop Ande of Aru Diocese and Bishop William of Boga Diocese are running programmes to provide safety equipment for health centres and hospitals and sanitisation equipment and educational material for churches and schools.
Bishop Mark said the church was a trusted organisation despite “misinformation, conspiracy theories and lack of trust in Governments and NGOs”.
“The church is well placed to combat the spread of Ebola as they have assets in many communities and play a crucial role in the region,” he said. People can donate here.
(Photo: Sjankauskas / Dreamstime).
