Faith leaders helped in ebola battle

Christian and Muslim leaders were instrumental in helping to tackle the ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone and Liberia despite initially being sidelined, a joint report by faith charities including Cafod has found, writes Liz Dodd.

“Keeping the Faith” said that religious leaders in both countries helped to quash rumours about the disease during the 2013-14 outbreak, particularly in far-flung areas that international non-governmental organisations could not reach.

But the report – by Cafod, Christian Aid, Tearfund and Islamic Relief – said that more lives could have been saved, had religious leaders been engaged earlier. Cafod director Chris Bain, said that those leaders were often closer to the people than government and health workers.

One example cited was an attempt by the Sierra Leonean Government to demand that cremation replace traditional burial ceremonies during which mourners touched or washed the infectious body of the dead person. Outraged communities continued to hold burials in secret until faith leaders engaged with them and identified Scripture passages that supported the new funeral services.