Caritas Freetown remembers victims of Ebola

The Justice and Peace Commission of Caritas Freetown in Sierra Leone, with support from the Irish Catholic aid agency, Trocaire this week, organised an ecumenical and inter-religious prayer service in memory of those who lost their lives to the Ebola Virus Disease.

The event held at the Rokel community near the capital Freetown was part of Caritas Freetown’s psychosocial support strategy for survivors and communities affected by the worst Ebola outbreak in history. A plaque with the names of all those who died within the Rokel and surrounding areas was blessed and handed over to the female head of the community, Yamida Langley by the Director of Caritas Freetown Fr Peter Konteh. In his remarks, Fr. Konteh noted that the plaque “is a way of grieving with all those who lost their dear ones in the difficult times.”

One of the survivors who also lost loved ones praised Caritas Freetown for the opportunity it gave them to pray for their family members and for the support the Church agency has been providing to survivors and families of the victims of the Ebola virus.

Salaimatu Bangura said the plaque will remind them and future generations of the terrible Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone and how it claimed many lives.
Through its many initiatives, Caritas Freetown has been helping individuals and communities to heal the psychological wounds and rebuild social structures following the outbreak of Ebola.

(By Festus Tarawalie, VR)

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