Between 2014 and 2016, Sierra Leone was hit by Ebola. Thousands died. The experience of Ebola helped Sierra Leone respond to COVDI-19. However a priest from Sierra Leone who ACN spoke to was concerned about the closing of churches during the pandemic while shops and restaurants remained open.

By ACN Staff

Father Patrick Layen George celebrating Holy Mass in Freetown. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

Between 2014 and 2016, 3,590 people in Sierra Leone were killed in the Ebola outbreak. The West African country is still traumatised by the experience of Ebola. The people of Sierra Leone did learn lessons from the Ebola outbreak that allowed them to respond rapidly to COVID-19. Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) spoke with Father Peter Konteh, the director of Caritas in Sierra Leone’s capital of Freetown, about Sierra Leone’s experience of COVID-19.

Father Peter Konteh at ACN’s offices. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

Father Peter explained that rapid measures were taken against COVID-19 based on lessons learned from Ebola:

“Among the measures quickly taken was the confinement of infected people and the quarantine of people with whom they had been in contact…With Ebola it was much harder to raise awareness in the population since many did not believe in the virus and died by not obeying safety measures. Things are different now with COVID-19.”

Father Peter shared with us one of his most difficult experiences during the Ebola outbreak. A catechist in Father Peter’s parish fell ill. Father Peter had not heard from the catechists for a while, so he went to visit him with another priest. They were greeted at the door by the catechist’s eight-year-old daughter who told the priests that her parents were asleep. Tragically the catechist and his wife were dead.

One thing that Father Peter did not like about the measures taken in Sierra Leone against COVID-19 was closing of churches. Father Peter details more concerns about that move:

“Measures were unfair because they closed churches, even when we took precautions such as social distancing, reduced capacity, increased the number of Masses...while restaurants, schools, etc. remained open…The government failed to understand the importance of the Mass, for God speaks to us through the Word, and the Eucharist is important for the faith. They took God out of the solution when God is the solution.”

On the positive side, Father Peter believes that the restrictions actually brought many priests closer to their parishioners. He explains more:

“One of the positive aspects of the shutdown of churches was that it brought us very close to the faithful. We met their families and we were in their homes. This brought people very close. Bringing Christ to the people is the primary job of a priest, so that's what we did.”

Father Peter wanted to express his thanks to ACN and our benefactors for the support offered to the Church during these difficult times:

“I cannot end without expressing my sincere thanks to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) and its benefactors for their support and solidarity. Beyond the financial support, we feel that we are a family in faith. People pray for us in different parts of the world. Amid the difficulties, we know that people are praying for us and helping Sierra Leone.”

If you would like to help ACN’s work in countries like Sierra Leone, please consider making a donation.

DONATE TO ACN