In Bombali…
Ebola Orphans Cry for Support
By Yusuff Moseray Suma
Ebola orphans aged between 10 and 16 years in Bumba Village, Pakimassabong Chiefdom, Bombali District, have made an urgent appeal for support to enable them to continue their education.
Bumba Village was among the communities severely hit during the 2014–2015 Ebola outbreak. Records from the village indicate 27 confirmed Ebola cases, resulting in 25 deaths, with only two female survivors.
One of the orphans, Janet S. Kamara, 14, told this reporter that she was promoted to Junior Secondary School (JSS) 3 but has been forced to stop attending school after losing both parents to Ebola. She explained that the person who had been paying her school fees suddenly stopped, without explanation.
“My dream is to become a nurse and help poor people, but how can I achieve that dream without education?” Janet lamented.
Another orphan, Daniel Kargbo, 12, currently in JSS 2, described his experience as heartbreaking and unforgettable. Daniel lost both parents at the height of the Ebola outbreak.
“My father died first, and then my mother followed. She collapsed and died just minutes after dropping me off at school,” Daniel narrated, struggling to hold back tears.
Daniel said his ambition is to become either a lawyer or a medical doctor, so he can help fight future disease outbreaks and defend the rights of vulnerable children in Sierra Leone and across Africa.
Despite several advocacy efforts over the years, most of the Ebola orphans in the village have dropped out of school due to the lack of school fees, uniforms, and basic learning materials. Today, their dreams and aspirations remain uncertain and fragile.
One of the two Ebola survivors in the village, Fatu Sankoh, told this writer that she has received no form of support since the end of the outbreak.
She explained that before the virus struck, she survived through petty trading, which supported both herself and her family. However, she said her health has since deteriorated.
“I used to travel to neighboring towns to buy goods for sale, but I can no longer do that. I am suffering seriously from knee complications and internal body pains,” she said.
Fatu further revealed that the government at the time instructed Ebola survivors to open bank accounts, promising monthly allowances. However, she said no money has ever been paid into her account.
“Not even a single dime,” she stressed.
Efforts to obtain clarification from both the previous and current governments on the status of support for Ebola survivors and orphans have so far yielded no response.
Salone Compass will continue to monitor the situation as the story unfolds.