By BosNewsLife Africa Service
MONROVIA, LIBERIA (BosNewsLife)– An American Christian doctor in Liberia has become the third known Christian missionary to suffer of the potentially deadly Ebola virus, a mission group confirmed.
However in comments monitored by BosNewsLife Friday, September 13, Serving In Mission (SIM), said Dr. Rick Sacra is making progress in his recovery from Ebola.
In a statement released by SIM, his wife Debbie also said that they “appreciate all the attention and concern for Rick.”
However she stressed “he wants you to share his burden for the people of Liberia and West Africa, to carry [the burden] along with him.”
She added that, “We appreciate that many have given to SIM and many other organizations to make sure that health workers have protective equipment. But the fight against this crisis is going to take more time and more resources.”
ETERNAL LOVE
The doctor had been working in the obstetrics unit at SIM’s ‘Eternal Love Winning Africa Hospital’ in Monrovia, the capital.
It came as another setback for SIM, an international organization with more than 1,600 active missionaries.
Last month Americans Nancy Writebol, an SIM nurse, and Dr. Kent Brantly of Christian relief group Samaritan’s Purse, were discharged from Emory University Hospital, in the U.S. city of Atlanta, after medics said they fully recovered from Ebola.
The two received an experimental drug known as ZMapp and recovered, Christians confirmed. The manufacturer reportedly said it has run out of supplies of the drug and it will take months to produce more.
HEALTH WORKERS
SIM President Bruce Johnson said however in a statement that his organization was “surrounding our missionary with prayer” and Liberian colleagues who continue fighting the epidemic.
Experts say health care workers are most at risk of contracting Ebola as the virus spreads through direct contact with infected patients.
World Health Organization Director Margaret Chan has warned that the outbreak would “get worse before it will get better” and urged a larger global response.
The Ebola outbreak has added to concerns about the plight of Christians working in difficult areas of Africa. Besides Ebola, they also face conflicts and persecution in several countries.
Additionally, some 1.3 million people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone will soon need help feeding themselves, according to United Nations estimates.
(BosNewsLife’s Stefan J. Bos and Joseph DeCaro contributed to the story)
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(BosNewsLife’s Stefan J. Bos and Joseph DeCaro contributed to this story).
