Scottish Catholic Observer

by Clare Louise McKenna

Speaking earlier this week the Pope said that as the epidemic worsened he wanted ‘to express my deep concern for this relentless illness that is spreading particularly on the African continent and especially among populations that are already disadvantaged’.

He invited the public to keep those who are affected lives in their prayers and added, “I hope the international community may provide much needed help to alleviate the sufferings of our brothers and sisters”.

The Pope offered his prayers and solidarity with the sick, as well as with the doctors, nurses, volunteers, religious orders and humanitarian agencies working ‘heroically to help our sick brothers and sisters’.

“I ask you to pray for them and for all who have lost their lives,” the pope said.

Approximately 10’000 cases and 5000 deaths have been counted since the first cases of the hemorrhagic fever were reported six months ago. International health authorities have warned the crisis may be much worse, believing many corpses and infected people remain unreported.

In Scotland SCIAF Director Alistair Dutton described the spread of the virus as ‘catastrophic’ and said, ‘nearly 5,000 people have died so far and many more lives are at risk’.

“People are quarantined in their villages and homes, and the economies in the worst affected countries are grinding to a halt,” he said. “This crisis is hitting people who were already extremely poor and in need hardest. We need to act now to help them and stop the virus spreading further.”

The Scottish charity has already sent £10,000 to pay for specialized training for hospital staff and vital equipment at the Holy Spirit Hospital in Makeni, Sierra Leone.

MR Dutton said that SCIAF was working with it’s partners in Caritas to ‘help to get food and other essentials to communities in some of the worst affected areas in Liberia, and let people know how they can protect themselves from infection’.

“I would urge everyone to please give what you can. Your donation will help us to get life-saving aid to people who desperately need it.”

http://www.sciaf.org.uk/