(Reuters) — A number of orphanages have been established in Conakry, capital city of Guinea, to accommodate children who have been left behind by their parents killed by the Ebola virus.
Although these children are all Ebola free, community members and their relatives are in constant denial to take their responsibilities in fear of catching infection.
The founder of Felfedef Children’s Home, Agnes Mimi Loua, has turned an old fax and photocopy center into an orphanage to support the orphans.
“I am a mother and have children. These children have become orphans and you can see how poor they are. What I can do now is to approach them and help to the best of my abilities,” said Loua.
The orphanages receive monetary support from the private sector and personal outreach. However, healthcare workers are of the opinion that implementation of social programs and networks required to maintain the well-being of these orphans has been overlooked.
“We get rice and tea here, but it’s not enough and I have a hard time sleeping. I don’t think I’ll be somebody in the future. I lost my mother and father, I won’t be much of anything in life,” said Kadia Tucamara, a 12-year-old orphan living in the orphanage.
While education and social programs may address some of the issues, the collateral damage for the Ebola orphans will hardly be undone.