Burkinabe Cleric Seeking Partnership Toward Medical Equipment, Training in COVID-19 Fight

In the July 4 interview, the member of the Religious Order of the Camillians further said, “At Saint Camillus Hospital, there are about 401 permanent employees and 100 external employees who care for about 900 patients daily. The government supports the hospital by paying the salaries of 50 employees.”

“The only laboratory in the region is located in Bobo-Dioulasso in Houet Province, about five-hour drive from the capital,” he said and added, “This means that suspicious cases throughout the country must wait “at least twelve hours for their results.”

In order to accelerate the tests for COVID-19, the Burkinabe Cleric explained that “the hospital, in agreement with the government, made available its biomolecular research center to carry out diagnostic tests.”

“So far, we have performed more than 1500 swabs,” Fr. Modeste said, adding that the hospital has also “produced hydroalcoholic solution (hand sanitizers) for both its needs and that of the population.”

“An isolation room has been set up in the hospital to receive suspicious cases pending diagnostic confirmation. However, there are only six beds in the emergency ward,” he further said.

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Reflecting on the reaction of people in Africa to the pandemic, Fr. Modeste said, “Seeing so many deaths in Western countries, everyone wondered how Africa would react to such a pandemic. The reaction of the people of Burkina Faso was one of great fear.”

He also pointed out that the restrictive measures imposed by the government to stop the spread of the disease “created a new problem in a country already suffering from poverty.”

“The majority of the population survives by selling something on the street, hoping to get enough to provide a daily meal for their family,” he said adding that COVID-19 restrictions have made it difficult for many in Burkina Faso to make ends meet.

In the face of such situations, “the first impulse is to turn to God in prayer,” the Cleric said adding that “the Bishops sent a prayer to be recited in families.”

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.