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             Sierra Leone Center Releases Its First Ebola Survivors

   by Nina de Vries

   When Kadiatu Bangura saw her brother, Emmanuel, for the first time
   after her release from the International Red Cross-operated Ebola
   treatment center near Kenema, she ran into his arms crying tears of
   joy.

   She had not seen him for weeks and was not sure she would ever see him
   again.

   The treatment center, in one of the areas hardest hit by the Ebola
   outbreak, released its first survivors of the deadly disease this past
   weekend.

   Of the four west African nations affected by the Ebola outbreak,
   Liberia has been hit the hardest, with 3,458 people infected, and 1,830
   of those killed by the disease. Sierra Leone has had 1,813 reported
   cases and 593 deaths, the WHO said.

   Fearful of health workers

   When the hospital workers first approached 11-year-old Kadiatu, she
   said she was afraid - the workers were dressed in white and she could
   not see their faces.

   ''Kadiatu said she now realizes that they had to dress like that to
   protect themselves from contracting the deadly disease.

   Emmanuel Bangura said he realized that Kadiatu was suffering symptoms
   associated with Ebola, such as diarrhea and vomiting, when he called
   for help.
   He said he is glad he noticed the signs of the disease early so that
   Kadiatu could get treatment.
   "I feel happy. I appreciate God, for having my sister back, because I
   understand this is a deadly sickness," Emmanuel Bangura said.
   In a nearby village, in the Waterloo district, about an hour from the
   capital, Freetown, Osman Sesay holds up his certificate of discharge
   from the Red Cross facility.

   Sesay said he feels better and is happy to be home.
   Although the two survivors have beaten the Ebola virus, Sesay and
   Kadiatu may still face challenges, said Gandi Kallon, who works with
   the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.

   "A  survivor coming back into a community creates a  big challenge. ...
   Stigmatization has been a major problem, not just for survivors, but
   for those [too] with the sickness to come forward and go to a hospital
   so action can be taken," Kallon said.

   The Ministry of Health and Sanitation and the Red Cross in Freetown are
   working to try to erase the stigma.

   Inform the community

   Red Cross spokesperson Patrick Massaquoi said that means working first
   with those who survive Ebola.

   "They go through a lot of counseling at the treatment center. Then
   social workers bring them to their community," Massaquoi said.

   "The Red Cross is across all districts (in Sierra Leone) so the local
   Red Cross in that district goes to the communities and meets family
   members and political and traditional authorities in order for them to
   receive survivors  in the community," he added.

   Red Cross staff members also speak to the community where survivors
   live, to explain Ebola prevention measures, how to detect it and stress
   that early treatment will increase chances of survival.
   They also explain to the community that survivors should not be feared.
   John Andrews, a member of Sesay's community of Banga Ground, said he is
   listening.

   "We are happy to see our brother back, he is totally healed," Andrews
   said.

   Young Kadiatu said one of the first things she will do is talk to her
   community about Ebola prevention, too, so that she can help prevent
   anyone else from getting sick.

   ''
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/ebola-outbreak-west-africa-survivors-
   stigma/2466320.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/ebola-outbreak-west-africa-survivors-stigma/2466320.html