SEE The Women Who Have Been Cured Of The Deadly Ebola Virus

UNICEF is doing a good job in the fight against Ebola in Africa. One of
its consultant, Jo Dunlop, travelled to one of the worst affected areas
of Sierra Leone – Kenema – and according to Jo, when you arrive in
the town, there’s a feeling that Ebola has settled in with no plans to
move any time soon.

Here is Jo Dunlop's report:

I travelled upcountry last week to one of the worst affected areas of
Sierra Leone – Kenema. When you arrive in the town, there’s a feeling
that Ebola has settled in with no plans to move any time soon. Chlorine
buckets sit outside most restaurants for people to wash their hands;
Ebola information posters are plastered on buildings; crackly radios
are loudly broadcasting conversations about Ebola; people are talking
about ‘dis Ebola bisnis’ relentlessly on the street; and handshaking
has been replaced by a brush of the elbows. 

Spending a few days around people who have been tragically affected by
this disease was an unforgettably sad experience. I was however
heartened by meeting some of the lucky people who are surviving Ebola.

Vandy Jawad 7, is a reminder of hope and survival in an otherwise
deeply tragic situation. He was in the treatment centre at Kenema for
more than one month after contracting the virus in Daru village about
40 km out of Kenema town, and one of the worst affected communities in
Sierra Leone.

According to nurses, he displayed some very serious symptoms when first admitted...

“That small boy was very, very sick. We did not
think he would survive as so many haven’t,” said Sister Nancy Yoko, the
nurse in charge of the Ebola Treatment Centre in Kenema.Vandy started
showing signs of recovery a couple of weeks ago slowly gathering his
strength. When he finally achieved a negative test result, which
revealed there was no more Ebola virus in his system, it was time for
him to go home.



“Little Vandy provided laughter at the most unlikely moments inside
that ward, I’m so happy for his recovery, “ commented a British
volunteer nurse who treated him inside the centre.

Before patients leave the ward, they are presented with transport money
to get home (about US$10), a clean set of clothes, and a certificate
declaring that they are healthy and no longer have Ebola. They are
photographed and congratulated by staff, and in humble way, celebrated
for their resilience. Vandy was also given a small plastic truck and
showed it off to all the nurses before he left the restricted compound
area with an enormous grin on his face.

“It’s nice for the children to have a toy before they go, it makes them happy, look at Vandy,” said Sister Nancy.



Isata Konneh (35) was another patient who I met leaving the ward. She
had tears in her eyes and proudly displayed her certificate to the
nurses “I am so happy for this day, I thank God that he has helped me
survive” she says.



Many of those contracting the virus are themselves health workers who
come in daily contact with very sick patients. Six nurses from the
Kenema Treatment Centre, have died. Among the staff infected is
survivor Fatmata Sesay who I met after she was released from the ward
along with her 11-year-old daughter Tata. Fatmata spent three weeks in
the ward while Tata was there for two, “I am the happiest person in the
world right now.”



“I knew I was very sick as I was bleeding through my nose and vomiting
blood clots, but I am lucky, I am better now and so is Tata. It is not
easy to recover from this terrible disease,” says Fatmata.