SPANISH nationality has been granted to two African missionaries and doctors who have helped the country in its attempts to save citizens from Ebola.
Sister Paciencia Melgar Ronda, 47 (pictured), originally from the former Spanish colony of Equatorial Guinea, had been working with Miguel Pajares at the Saint Joseph hospital in Monrovia, Liberia when they and two other colleagues caught the deadly virus.
Pajares was repatriated to Madrid, where he died within two days as he was in the later stages of the disease – as was Sister Paciencia, who was left lying in the Liberia hospital with nothing but prayers and paracetamol to help her.
The nun’s miraculous recovery meant she was able to donate blood to help save her colleague from Sierra Leone, Manuel García Viejo, but arrived in Spain too late.
Nurse Teresa Romero, 44, from Alcorcón (Madrid) caught Ebola whilst caring for García Viejo, and Paciencia’s blood – now immune to the virus – was vital in saving her life.
Since then, Paciencia has repeatedly offered herself for research purposes over the long term to study her evolution, and says Spain can have as much of her blood as it wants.
Teresa thanked Paciencia when she left hospital, completely cured, and said she wanted to meet her in person and give her a hug.
Paciencia’s colleague, 36-year-old Helena Wolo, from Liberia, also recovered from Ebola in her country of origin and has travelled to Spain on several occasions since to donate blood and allow herself to be used for research.
Studies on Helena were also crucial in treating and curing Teresa, who describes herself as ‘a walking miracle’.
Helena has also agreed to let Spanish health authorities study her and take blood donations whenever it needs to.
To show its gratitude for their generosity and valuable contribution to medical science, Spain has granted them citizenship.
Normally, Spanish nationality is granted to foreigners who have been resident in Spain for at least 10 years – two years for Latin Americans - after passing a language and culture test, and who can prove they have sufficient funds or work to maintain themselves, unless they are married to a Spaniard or a direct descendent of a Civil War refugee who fled abroad, normally to Cuba, Argentina or Uruguay.
But in special cases at the government’s discretion, nationality can be awarded without meeting these requisites by Royal Decree where exceptional circumstances feature.
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