We spoke to an infectious disease specialist who works in the Ebola treatment centre at Donka Hospital in the capital, Conakry.
“The children could not be accompanied in the centre, so we doctors took complete care of them. We washed them, fed them, rocked them, and consoled them. Some had lost their parents to the disease, and for those who were not orphaned, it was quite challenging for their parents. They had to be separated from their children and could only watch them from a see-through screen in the centre. Many found that very difficult but after sensitizing them, they eventually understood that this was in the child’s best interest.”
As we drove back to Conakry, the news broke of yet another spike in cases. Ebola had spread to new areas of the country; areas previously untouched by the disease.
It is predicted that Ebola will be with us for a while in Guinea, but even when it is over, its devastating impact will continue for these children who have lost parents; people who have lost family members; and communities which have lost health workers.
*Timothy La Rose is a Communication Specialist with UNICEF Guinea. Source: Unicef Connect
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