Restoring Hope and Dignity of Ebola Survivors in Uganda
4 ways USAID support helped them bounce back in life
The epicenter of the Ebola outbreak that took place in Uganda last fall is deceivingly quiet, but the scars from this devastating disease are carried by community members who survived its deadly grip.
The Ebola epidemic was declared over in Uganda on Jan. 11. Since Uganda’s first outbreak in 2000, the deadly Ebola virus — which is primarily found in sub-Saharan Africa — has claimed 333 lives. The most recent outbreak in September 2022 was caused by the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus, which infected 142 people, including 26 children. Fifty-five people ended up dying, while 87 survived.
Ebola survivors face challenges adjusting to life after overcoming such a horrific illness. Communities ostracize them, they are denied access to healthcare, and their children are sent away from schools, leaving them feeling lonely and in despair.
USAID with other partners established the National Ebola Survivors’ Program in November 2022 to support the 87 survivors and address these challenges.
After being empowered by the program, some of the survivors became part of a “Survivor Corps,” a network of 54 peer survivors to help other Ebola survivors receive care and overcome emotional effects ranging from feelings of guilt, shame, fear of stigma arising from misconceptions surrounding the disease, grief, trauma, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and, for some, suicidal thoughts.
Here are four ways the National Ebola Survivors’ Program is making a difference.
1. Supporting fellow survivors reintegrate into societies and access basic needs
The 40 members of the Kalwana Ebola Survivors’ Association have overcome stigma and discrimination in their communities. The National Ebola Survivors’ Program has helped them reintegrate into society through community, family, and couple dialogues to reassure them that they are Ebola-free.
“The community members stopped fearing us when they saw the health workers walking with us,” said Robert, an association member.
The association members also assist other fellow survivors in need, using their own resources. For instance, they rebuilt a mud-and-wattle home and latrine for Kalungi (not her real name), a widow with eight children whose house was in danger of collapsing.
2. Increasing community awareness to promote accessibility to high-quality medical services
With support from 20 Survivor Corps members who work closely with the National Ebola Survivors’ Program, many survivors received prompt diagnosis and treatment for various health challenges.
Emma (not his real name), an Ebola survivor, shared with Kamadah, a Survivor Corps member, that his vision was blurry. Kamadah informed the National Ebola Survivors’ Program team, and they scheduled an ophthalmology appointment for Emma. The doctor discovered that Emma had uveitis, or “floaters,” in his eye. Eye problems and vision loss are very common among Ebola survivors. The prompt diagnosis and treatment saved Emma’s vision.
“I can see clearly now, and I’m back on the road,” said Emma, a truck driver who drives approximately 345 kilometers to Busia, Kenya every week, and whose vision is vital to his livelihood.
He joins 86 other survivors who have recovered from medical issues ranging from eye problems, headaches, chronic joint and muscle pains, hearing loss, fatigue, scrotal problems, and memory loss.
3. Providing emotional support and empowerment to rebuild lives and sustainable livelihoods
Ten months after fully recovering from Ebola, Hamza (not his real name) and his wife were having marital challenges. Hamza sought guidance from a counselor with the help of a member of the Survivor Corps and confided in him that his inability to earn a living was putting pressure on the family.
Prior to getting sick, Hamza earned 1 million shillings ($268) in profits per month selling cows to butchers. Due to the Ebola-related stigma from his potential buyers, he has lost this source of income, and the family has struggled to make ends meet. With the help of the survivor corps, Hamza began to grow, harvest, and sell food obtained from the land he bought before the Ebola outbreak.
Action plans like these have not only inspired Hamza–they have inspired other survivors to start alternative income-generating activities that have restored their hope for a brighter future.
4. Empowering community resource persons to support survivors’ recovery
Augustin is a local community leader working with the Survivor Corps. Owing to the knowledge he received from the counselors, he alerted the National Ebola Survivors’ Program about Ronald (not his real name) and his family, who could not access water from the community well due to discrimination and stigma. His children could not attend school either.
The team sprang into action by holding community dialogues and provided facts about Ebola. They were eventually reassured that Ronald and his family were not contagious.
The National Ebola Survivors’ Program has held 65 such dialogues, 34 family support dialogues, and 541 outreaches to survivors and their families. Thanks to these interventions, life for Ronald has improved, the children have returned to school, and the family has reintegrated into the community.
The National Ebola Survivors’ Program now has 457 community resource people, including village health team members and local leaders all working toward supporting Ebola survivors. According to Augustin, there is no more stigma against Ebola survivors in his community.
In collaboration with different stakeholders, such as the World Health Organization and other partners, the National Ebola Survivors’ Program helped develop national guidelines to enhance health workers’ preparedness and readiness to deal with public health threats and events in Uganda, and tools for the care of Ebola survivors. Health care workers in Uganda have been trained to provide continuous care and support to Ebola survivors.
USAID’s support to the Ebola response in Uganda demonstrates the Agency’s continued commitment to improve health security across the country. For 61 years, USAID has been a key development partner in Uganda, working with individuals, communities and civil society to improve the lives of Ugandans.
About the Authors
Louisa Kiggwe is a Knowledge Management Specialist with USAID partner Baylor-Uganda. Jennifer Tumusiime is the COVID-19 Knowledge Management Specialist with USAID’s Uganda Learning Activity.
