Ebola

1. Doctors at an Ebola treatment facility in western Uganda. 2. Ebola prevention and awareness signs were all over Uganda long before this current outbreak.

Ebola recently roared its ugly head in Uganda, much as it has on and off for the past 40 years. To date, 76 cases and 39 deaths have been confirmed or suspected in the past month. Most cases are confined to two districts outside of the capital city of Kampala. Just this last week, the Ugandan President announced that these two districts will go back to lockdowns similar to the COVID restrictions of the past two years. The significant difference now is that schools will remain open.

As the headlines have grabbed the world’s attention, we have fielded many calls, emails and texts checking about our welfare. We’re so very grateful for your concern. We are well. Ebola is really a part of life here. When we arrived at the airport two years ago, the first sign to greet us was a placard about Ebola prevention and awareness. In the midst of the COVID lockdowns, the threats of malaria and typhus were so much greater than the threat of COVID or now Ebola.

For a little perspective - I hosted a ZOOM call last night for the Uganda Young Life staff. We pray monthly with Ugandan staff, volunteers and supporters from the US. Last night, Ebola certainly came up for the staff in the two districts who are one week into a 21-day lockdown.

We prayed for the affected families and the medical staff working to control the outbreak.

But we spent more time praying for tenaciousness for the Young Life team to press on in ministry, to recruit and train new leaders and disciple kids who have recently been to Young Life camps. Across the country, we prayed for protection for staff and volunteers who are living through flooding of their homes and communities from recent rains. We also prayed for a number of leaders and staff who are currently unwell. Some have malaria and others are simply sick without a diagnosis. It is not uncommon for friends here to go to the hospital for a saline or antibiotic drip to revive or rehydrate. Most Ugandan’s have malaria multiple times over their lifetime. The life expectancy here is between 48 and 53 years old.

Life is hard. Few people stop when something as frightening as Ebola pops up. They simply can’t.

Unless you are the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Who, with no warning or guidance, decided to start screening all of the 145 inbound daily travelers from Uganda to the U.S. through one of five east coast airports. The screen consists of taking your temperature and having you fill out a questionnaire about your contacts in Uganda. No other nation is requiring this.

No direction was given to travelers or the airlines. Our dear friends, Michelle and Shawn Carnes, were to be with us this week but the uncertainty of rerouting and the additional unknown expense made them postpone their trip. And as much as we’re missing them, we’re glad they delayed.

This week, a colleague of Scott’s boarded a flight in Amsterdam (after having travelled through three other countries besides Uganda) and settled in for take-off when security entered the plane, confirmed his name and escorted him off the flight. He was then rerouted to Atlanta, was screened, had to spend the night and then get to L.A. at his own expense. We figure that this little requirement from the U.S. government is costing the average U.S. bound traveler an additional $500 as well as extra travel time. All of this so we can have our temperature taken and fill out a piece of paper. Apparently, despite modern technology, this little exercise can only be done at JFK, Atlanta, Newark, Dulles or Chicago airports.

But, as much as I want to complain about this ridiculous policy, I’m reminded that Ugandans struggle everyday with sickness and inconvenience and crazy laws and onerous requirements.

We are well. Pray for perspective for us and health and healing for this dear country – especially for our Young Life friends Charles, Jimmy and Deo.