Baptists in Liberia have expressed thanks to God and to the global Baptist family after finally being declared Ebola free.
“Since Saturday, May 9, 2015, Liberia has gone through an incubation period of 42 days without any new case of the deadly Ebola virus. I thank my God,” wrote Olu Menjay, president of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention.
“So many churches, partners, friends and individuals aided us collectively and independently to sustain this great achievement,” Menjay said. “Indeed, we were overwhelmed by countless challenges and you provided us with help. You stood with us in tangible ways. We are grateful!”
A World Health Organization ceremony was held in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia, on May 11, to mark the achievement and to make the official declaration. “We join the leadership and people of Liberia to express our deepest gratitude to you. We join the leadership of Liberia Baptists to say thank you,” said Menjay, who is also a vice president of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA).
“We are utterly delighted at the news that Liberia has been declared Ebola free,” BWA General Secretary Neville Callam told Liberian Baptists. “You have endured much, but you persevered in faith and you were never forgotten. Prayers on your behalf were constant and hopeful.”
The BWA, through its Baptist World Aid division, supported Liberian Baptists in their response to the crisis through sensitization and education campaigns, the provision of sanitation equipment and materials to churches and communities, food relief, medicines and trauma counseling for families and communities.
Liberia confirmed its first two cases of the Ebola virus disease on March 30, 2014. As of March 17 this year, the date of the last known occurrence, 4,283 Liberians died as a result of the outbreak, which also affected Sierra Leone and Guinea. A total of 9,555 Liberians were known to have contracted the disease.
“May God bless Liberia. May the situation that has emerged signal a new day of opportunity and may it herald the renewal of hope,” Callam declared.
BWA helped to send containers of food to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea to assist in Ebola relief
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© May12, 2015