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A Bold Step of Faith
Samaritan’s Purse opens an Ebola Treatment Center in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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Finally we learned that Ebola had made its way to the area where we’ve operated a country office for eight years. Something radical—a bold step of faith—had to be done quickly to battle the dreaded virus.
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Our teams were up early in the morning and sometimes worked through the night so that the 18-bed center would be ready for patients in only about two weeks. The center can be expanded to 54 beds if needed, and patients are cared for in an isolation unit until lab results indicate whether they have been infected with Ebola.
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The local community also came together to help build the center, including Mumbere Kombi, whose sister died of Ebola.
“When one has lost a member of their family to Ebola, that is the person who understands well that Ebola is real,” he said. “Thank you for bringing well-equipped people to help us stop this epidemic of Ebola.”
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“These people are God’s creation and He loves them,” said nurse Emily Way. “We are called to have no fear in love and no fear in following the Lord’s will— relying on Him as our refuge and safety.”
Although the deadly virus has a fatality rate of about 60 percent, supportive care and other interventions can decrease case mortality.
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“You have to remember what God has in mind for us—sharing love, showing compassion, and supporting the family during the whole process,” said Kelly Suter, clinical director.