Since March 2014, there has been an outbreak of the deadly disease, the virus hemorrhagic Ebola, from the border of Guinea. At present there are more than 1000 deaths in four West Africa countries: Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria, with Liberia registering more than 670 cases and 350 deaths (among them, four doctors and 30 nurses).
The virus has spread quickly in Liberia; eight of the 15 counties have registered confirmed cases and deaths due to the Ebola virus.
PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACTS
The Ebola virus creates serious fear in Liberia and people are very afraid to move about. No one wishes to get sick of other illnesses and be taken to hospital. The Ebola virus has created serious trauma in Liberia.
MEDICAL IMPACTS
Also, most of the health centers are abandoned because the health workers don’t have protective gears (Health PPE) to protect themselves from the Ebola virus. As a result, the health workers denied patients to have access to the health centers. The Ebola virus has the same symptoms as malaria, cholera, typhoid fever etc. So people are afraid to be diagnosed and be declared as an Ebola patient that will lead them to be quarantined.
DECLARATION OF STATE OF EMERGENCY
On August 6, 2014, the President of the Republic of Liberia has declared the State of Emergency for three months to enforce the fight against the Ebola virus, due to the high number of cases and deaths registered in the eight counties: Lofa, Montserrado, Bong, Margibi, Bomi, Cape Mount, Nimba and Grand Bassa. There have been serious measures put in to place by the Liberian government to restrict movement of people from one county to another. This is to track and prevent the spread of the Ebola virus to the rest of the country.
CHALLENGES:
- Social: Liberia as a post-war country has a high number of unemployment. Due to the fear and panic created by the virus Ebola and the declaration of the State of Emergency, more Liberians stay home to avoid being contact with infected persons of Ebola. People who are unemployed can no more do petty jobs to carter to their family basic needs. This may result to starvation and death among the poor people. Also all public and private schools are closed and non-essential workers are asked to stay home.
- Economical: Furthermore, because of the Ebola virus, some companies are closing their offices while others are sending back home their senior staff. Government Revenues are reducing because most economical activities are locked down. Prices of basic necessity, goods and services and transportation are at the increase.
CLOSING STATEMENT:
So far no disciple has been infected from the Ebola virus. Unfortunately, few disciple-sister-nurses have lost their closed colleagues as a result of the Ebola virus.
We are very grateful to God and continue to pray that God protect the brethren to be safe while we observer the practical rules of prevention put in place by the Ministry of Health and WHO.
In this light, this Sunday there will be Ebola awareness right after church to create more awareness among disciples. For the past two weeks the entire country has been calling upon God and decided to turn to God through fast and prayer. The ICOC in Liberia started three days of fasting and prayer by sector since Thursday, August 7, 2014 for brothers and sisters to turn to God and strongly trust in Him.
Fellow brothers and sisters, for and on behalf of the ICOC Liberia family, I ask that all of our sister churches keep us in prayer in this period of challenges.
Your brother in Christ,
Edmond Goly, Evangelist
Leader-in-charge, ICOC, Liberia
August 9, 2014
Read more: Ebola Outbreak Update from HOPE worldwide Africa