Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/370348
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 27 AUGUST 2014 News 6 DANIEL MIZZI HEALTH parliamentary secretary Chris Fearne has insisted that while Malta runs a very low risk of an Ebola outbreak – which in itself has been described as an "international public health emergency that requires an extraordinary response" – Malta is prepared to deal with any such situ- ation. Despite the government's reassur- ances and the fact that the Ebola out- break has been limited to West Afri- can countries with inadequate health systems, 15% of MaltaToday respond- ents to a survey carried out by this newspaper have described the fear of an Ebola epidemic as the "biggest threat to world peace and security." The current outbreak of Ebola be- gan in Guinea in March, and has since spilled over to Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and more recently to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The outbreak has so far seen 2,615 reports of Ebola cases, as well as more than 1,400 deaths, and with no licensed treatment or vaccine for Ebola, the World Health Organisa- tion has warned that the situation is likely to get worse. Dispelling fear of any outbreak in Malta or the Mediterranean, Fearne said on PBS's programme Reporter that Ebola is only transmitted if one comes into direct contact with bodily fluids or blood of an infected person; the virus is not transmitted by aero- sols or through water and food. He said that notwithstanding Malta being free so far of the Ebola out- break, the country was "taking all the necessary precautions at airports," and other points of entry. One such precaution is the health authorities' warning to Maltese trav- ellers intent on travelling to countries where Ebola has been confirmed: the public has been advised to avoid non- essential travel to the West African nations to limit possible exposure to areas affected with Ebola. The outbreak has also seen the neighbouring Libyan health minis- try warn that the country's porous borders, amid the ongoing civil strife, could lead to persons infected with Ebola entering the country undetec- ted. "Despite the remote eventual- ity of an Ebola outbreak in Malta or someone infected with Ebola being in Malta, the government is taking this seriously. We have been taking all the necessary precautions since May. "If there is a case of Ebola in Mal- ta, the country is well prepared and equipped to tackle it. There is also great synergy between health unions and the opposition in the unlikely case of an outbreak," Fearne argued. Cremona is not the problem, 'his Curia is' – Fr Gorg Dalli DANIEL MIZZI WITH several opinion writers ex- pressing criticism of the Church's leadership – or lack of it – the outspoken Fr Gorg Dalli on Mon- day insisted that the problems with the leadership are there for everyone to see, arguing that the Church's leadership is in a "disas- trous" state. But contrary to the majority of opinion writers – who have cited Archbishop Paul Cremona's "lack of leadership" and the Church's conspicuous absence from the civil unions debate – Dalli argued that the problems emanate from the Curia itself, claiming among others that some problems have existed for 25 years. Speaking on the latest edition of the TVM current affairs pro- gramme Reporter, Dalli underlined that one must distinguish between the Church and the Curia, stress- ing that while the former is failing to identify its mission "of teaching Christian values and the Gospel," the latter is rife with leadership problems and stumbling blocks. "The bishop is not the problem, the problem lies at the Curia and the people in charge. There are problems which have been present for 25 years, but to date, the arch- bishop has been reluctant to ring out the changes," he said. He added that the Church's main problems are its vision and mis- sion. "The Church cannot pre- tend to be another political group which takes stands just like any other party, but conversely, it must strive to carry out its true mission: that of teaching the Gospel." On the other hand, Dalli said, the "Church's leadership is in a disas- trous state," and argued that these problems are there for all to see. Asked whether Pope Francis' leadership has inf luenced the Church in Malta, Dalli insisted that while the Roman Catholic Church has been inf luenced by the new pope, the local Curia has not changed. "The Church is not the curia, it is everyone. It is an insult to tell me that I am not part of the Church, but I would take it as a compliment if you tell me that I am not part of the Curia," he said. Moreover, Fr Dalli took um- brage at PN leader Simon Busut- til's comments in which he said Joseph Muscat had "silenced the Church", especially over its stance on the civil unions bill – describ- ing the comments as "ignorant" and "speculative." On his part, the former head of the Church's environment com- mission, Prof. Victor Axiak, ar- gued that the criticism levelled at the Church's "lack of vocifer- ous stands," is all about percep- tion, adding that criticism at the Church's refusal to take a stand on certain controversial issues is not right. He however said that the leader- ship must give the Church a clear direction, adding that "the Church must listen and understand the people more. It has to be focused on strengthening the Catholic re- ligion and its people, and not on superficial things." Government prepared to deal with Ebola – Chris Fearne ALS ice bucket challenge Dubbing the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) bucket challenge as a "major marketing success," the parliamentary secretary argued that its success is serving as a platform to highlight other diseases and illnesses which have affected society. "Apart from creating awareness on ALS, the bucket challenge has also served as a platform to create greater awareness on cancer and other diseases," Fearne argued. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) – the lethal neurodegenerative disorder also known as Lou Gehrig's disease – has grown in aware- ness thanks to the ice bucket challenge which has seen the United States' ALS association raising over $70 million in donations. "ALS is an incurable condition and a rare disease that affects two persons from 100,000. It attacks the nervous system of the body, be- fore eventually leading to paralysis and death, and unfortunately, as yet, no cure has been found. "Currently, 15 people are suffering from the disease in Malta. Until some time ago only a couple of doctors knew of the disease, but now thanks to this campaign, awareness has increased," he said.