Ebola survivors

While the disease is still feared, hundreds of patients are getting treated and survive. This collection of photos invites you to meet some of the incredible children, mothers and care-givers who have beaten Ebola and lived to tell their story.

Oripa was just 13 when her mother got Ebola and died suddenly. She and her little sister both tested positive for the virus and went into treatment together. They recovered from Ebola but are coping with the loss of their mother. A year on, Oripa is… — Oripa was just 13 when her mother got Ebola and died suddenly. She and her little sister both tested positive for the virus and went into treatment together. They recovered from Ebola but are coping with the loss of their mother. A year on, Oripa is in school and has been welcomed by her friends and she sings in the school choir.

A self portrait of Oripa with her mother. She says she misses her all the time but knows her mom would be proud. Oripa is doing well in school and looks after her little sister Lorene.

Little sister Lorene looks on as Oripa draws her family portrait. Lorene whispered as she drew, asked where she was in the drawing. Oripa drew her sister standing next to a magical ‘healing’ tree. Lorene smiled with approval when she saw the way she… — Little sister Lorene looks on as Oripa draws her family portrait. Lorene whispered as she drew, asked where she was in the drawing. Oripa drew her sister standing next to a magical ‘healing’ tree. Lorene smiled with approval when she saw the way she featured in the drawing.

Oripa watches as Lorene draws her own portrait. The girls get support from UNICEF with school and medical bills and counselling and healthy food. Without the help, the fate of Ebola survivors would be even more difficult than it already is.

Honoré got Ebola after his sister died of the disease. He went to get vaccinated but was already infected. He’s a survivor who has struggled with fear and mistrust from his school mates.

“Some children believed that once you get the disease even after surviving you can still infect others,” says Grâce, the principal at Honoré’s school. “When he came back to school, friends were afraid of Honoré.” She worked with UNICEF to organize d… — “Some children believed that once you get the disease even after surviving you can still infect others,” says Grâce, the principal at Honoré’s school. “When he came back to school, friends were afraid of Honoré.” She worked with UNICEF to organize discussions with parents and children to give clear and accurate information that he was no longer contagious.

“When he recovered, we could not abandon him in the streets. We took our child back to school,” says Grâce. Honoré is lucky to have educators like Grace who welcome him along with case workers from UNICEF who ensure he’s getting the right support at… — “When he recovered, we could not abandon him in the streets. We took our child back to school,” says Grâce. Honoré is lucky to have educators like Grace who welcome him along with case workers from UNICEF who ensure he’s getting the right support at home too. It takes a network of people to help meet the complex and dynamic needs of survivors like Honoré.

Honoré’s drawing of a chicken.

Edwige is a pediatric nurse who caught Ebola from the patients she was treating. Before the Ebola protection protocols were in place, the disease swept through her team of nurses at the Hospital in Mangina, where the first cases of the outbreak were… — Edwige is a pediatric nurse who caught Ebola from the patients she was treating. Before the Ebola protection protocols were in place, the disease swept through her team of nurses at the Hospital in Mangina, where the first cases of the outbreak were detected. “They isolated us,” she says. “We were in quarantine together with the sick and other nurses we work with and we all stated treatment directly, that’s why we lived.”

“I was a nurse before and I’ll always be a nurse,” says Edwige. She was back at work helping children just a month after she was released from treatment where she recovered. She says she’s never experienced any stigma from the community or her patie… — “I was a nurse before and I’ll always be a nurse,” says Edwige. She was back at work helping children just a month after she was released from treatment where she recovered. She says she’s never experienced any stigma from the community or her patients. “We’re all together against Ebola,” she says. “I’ve been welcomed back and I’m working as before to help children.”

Even after hours, Edwige is still looking after others. In her kitchen, she’s making soup to drop off for a friend who isn’t well. She’s proud to tell people she’s an Ebola survivor as she travels through her neighbor. “It helps everyone understand … — Even after hours, Edwige is still looking after others. In her kitchen, she’s making soup to drop off for a friend who isn’t well. She’s proud to tell people she’s an Ebola survivor as she travels through her neighbor. “It helps everyone understand that you can recover,” she says. “It shows people you’re just like them.”

Edwige says she’s relieved to see the cases of Ebola dropping in Mangina and is ready for the epidemic to end. Jumps in cases continue though, the week we visited it went from 8 Ebola cases to 15 confirmed and 50 suspected. With large parts of the p… — Edwige says she’s relieved to see the cases of Ebola dropping in Mangina and is ready for the epidemic to end. Jumps in cases continue though, the week we visited it went from 8 Ebola cases to 15 confirmed and 50 suspected. With large parts of the population who deny Ebola exists or refuse treatment, the gaps in protection make it harder to eradicate the virus.

Veronique doesn’t know how old she is but she guesses she’s over 80. She lives in Butembo. The disease ravaged Veronique’s family in days. “They really did not fall sick for long,” she recalls. “They would fall sick for a night and die. All my child… — Veronique doesn’t know how old she is but she guesses she’s over 80. She lives in Butembo. The disease ravaged Veronique’s family in days. “They really did not fall sick for long,” she recalls. “They would fall sick for a night and die. All my children died.”

Veronique sings a traditional church song in Kinande language about Jesus and the resurrection. She got sick with Ebola and lost consciousness before she was taken in for treatment. She recovered and now looks after her grandchildren who’ve been lef… — Veronique sings a traditional church song in Kinande language about Jesus and the resurrection. She got sick with Ebola and lost consciousness before she was taken in for treatment. She recovered and now looks after her grandchildren who’ve been left motherless by the disease.

Veronique walks across the road with her two grandchildren. She says it’s not easy to feed two children at her age without land to grow food. UNICEF supports her with food and medicine to ensure the children stay healthy. A case worker checks in on … — Veronique walks across the road with her two grandchildren. She says it’s not easy to feed two children at her age without land to grow food. UNICEF supports her with food and medicine to ensure the children stay healthy. A case worker checks in on her often to see how she’s doing with the children and helps arrange care as needed.

Veronique used to live on a farm in Kibira and she says that her strength from farming helped her beat Ebola. She chops the wood to get a fire going to make the evening meal for the hungry children. Between getting firewood and water, laundry and co… — Veronique used to live on a farm in Kibira and she says that her strength from farming helped her beat Ebola. She chops the wood to get a fire going to make the evening meal for the hungry children. Between getting firewood and water, laundry and cooking, Veronique doesn't rest. She’s doing what needs to be done to help her grandchildren in difficult circumstances.

Rebecca got Ebola from her mother and the whole family ended up at the same treatment centre. Because they got treatment early, everyone survived so Rebecca is back in school and back into her normal life since she recovered from Ebola one year ago.

Self portrait by Rebecca.

Rebecca says her mother is still unwell so she wants to become a doctor so she can help her heal. In the meantime, she’s studying hard in school and enjoying being back with her friends. While some children have experienced stigma as Ebola survivors… — Rebecca says her mother is still unwell so she wants to become a doctor so she can help her heal. In the meantime, she’s studying hard in school and enjoying being back with her friends. While some children have experienced stigma as Ebola survivors, Rebecca has been welcomed in her community and at her school. “It was great to be healthy again and back home,” she says.

Everine got Ebola when her older brother asked her to nurse his child while the mother was unwell. Within days, the child and the mother were dead from Ebola and Everine was a confirmed case. She thought she’d never see her children again when she w… — Everine got Ebola when her older brother asked her to nurse his child while the mother was unwell. Within days, the child and the mother were dead from Ebola and Everine was a confirmed case. She thought she’d never see her children again when she went into isolation. Miraculously, she survived and all the children have tested negative for the virus.

Children playing in Everine’s neighbor are now friendly to her and her children. She had to move to a new district to avoid the stigma and discrimination she faced as an Ebola survivor. She says the worst part was when neighbors refused to let her c… — Children playing in Everine’s neighbor are now friendly to her and her children. She had to move to a new district to avoid the stigma and discrimination she faced as an Ebola survivor. She says the worst part was when neighbors refused to let her children play because she had Ebola but had recovered. This kind of reaction is still common so UNICEF works in the community to help people better understand how survivors are no longer contagious and how to include them.

Everine is happy at her new place and when the children are at school she works in the harden to ensure she’s got plenty of fresh vegetables for her family.