4 Pinoy missionaries serving in Africa amid Ebola

MANILA, Philippines - While many have fled West Africa to avoid the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus, four Filipino missionary priests have reportedly stayed in Sierra Leone to fulfill their evangelical mission.

Brother Tagoy Jakosalem, of the Order of Augustinian Recollects (OAR) or Recoletos, posted a report on CBCPNews, the official news service provider of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), that four Recoletos priests have decided to continue their services in Sierra Leone, one of the hotbeds of the Ebola outbreak aside from Guinea and Liberia.

The four Filipino missionaries were identified as Fathers Roy Baluarte, Russell Lapidez and Dennis Castillo and Bro. Jonathan Jamero.

Two Spanish, OAR missionaries Fr. Jose Luis Garayoa and Fr. Rene Gonzales, are serving with the Filipinos.

The OAR began its missionary activities in Sierra Leone in 1997. There are about 60 small Christian communities under the mission.

The work of the Filipino priests at the Diocese of Makeni used to be involved only in educating residents, community organizing, fomenting a holistic development of faith-experience and actively engaging the people and being part of the local community.

But now, they have added an Ebola information campaign in their list of duties.

“A few days ago, after conferring with each other we, the Augustinian Recollect missionaries, have decided to remain steadfast to the mission entrusted to us. We are all afraid but we choose to be with our people to continue to give hope to them, especially during this time of difficulties. Preaching the Gospel and at the same time sensitizing the people about the Ebola virus gives new meaning to our work of evangelization. May God protect us from Ebola virus,” said Lapidez.

Fr. Lauro Larlar, the Prior Provincial of the Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno that has jurisdiction over the Sierra Leone mission, had asked for prayers for the Recolletos missionaries.

“May we ask the Augustinian Recollect family and our people to please offer prayers and sacrifices for the people in West Africa, especially to our missionaries stationed in Sierra Leone, who are now in a frightening situation due to the deadliest Ebola virus outbreak,” he added.

Lapidez said that it was in early April when he first heard about an Ebola outbreak and now his fears that the virus would reach Sierra Leone has become a reality.

He reported that based on the testimonies of those who were directly involved in handling the Ebola cases, there were five contributing factors that led to the outbreak of the disease in Sierra Leone in just six months.

First, there was a delayed imposition of the government for stricter movement of the people in the borders of Sierra Leone after the first cases of Ebola contagion in neighboring Guinea and Liberia started.

Second is the ignorance and incredulity of some people regarding the reality and dangers of the virus.

Third is the traditional washing or ritual cleansing of the dead bodies, which is usually done in the house. The immediate family members are the most susceptible in contracting the virus, he said.

Fourth is the poor health facilities and the shortage of trained personnel to handle Ebola cases.

Lastly, the stigma attached to patients or those suspected to been infected with the virus. As a result, carriers of Ebola look for traditional healers and the disease is transmitted to the healer.

Ebola transmittal

The World Health Organization (WHO) in their latest statement said the chances of an Ebola virus-infected airline passenger to spread the disease on other plane passengers is slim.

That’s because, unlike viruses that cause the flu or a cold, the Ebola virus is not airborne and could not spread through the air.

“The risk of transmission of Ebola virus disease during air travel is low. Transmission requires direct contact with blood, secretions, organs or other body fluids of infected living or dead persons or animals, all unlikely exposures for the average traveler,” according to the WHO statement.

Quarantine head Federico Castillo at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) told The STAR earlier “that Ebola virus will not reach the NAIA because it will definitely die due the long flight. Travelers from African countries would take at least three connecting flights before reaching Manila. – With Rudy Santos