Social worker Lindsay Jones recently arrived at the Red Cross Ebola treatment centre in Kenema, Sierra Leone. The Ottawa resident is there to provide psychosocial support to patients being treated for the virus. She’s been describing some of the heartwarming and heartbreaking moments she’s experienced on her blog. We share this excerpt.
The Ebola treatment centre runs like a well-oiled machine. Each unit of the centre plays a critical role in the care of the patients admitted. They include Infection Prevention and Control, Triage, Admissions, Nursing and Medical, Community Health/Psychosocial Support, the Pharmacy, the Store (for supplies), the Morgue, the ‘Hotel’ (where patients who have been discharged wait to return home) and finally where the admitted patients are cared for.
This area is divided into three sections:
Confirmed, Probable and Suspected. Each section is separated from the other by orange fences, to ensure that those who are confirmed with the virus don’t spread it to those who are suspected or probable, but may not actually have it. To go into any of these sections, you must be in full PPE. That said, you can still see and communicate with the patients on the inside over the fence, which is really nice…as long as they are feeling well enough to be sitting or walking around outside. Those who are not doing as well tend to stay inside the tents in the restricted areas and can only be visited by those in personal protective equipment (PPE). I entered for the first time on my second day to visit with a little girl who had arrived the night before and who was reportedly very traumatized. Sadly, she had been quite ill and died just a few minutes before I entered her tent. This is such a heartbreaking disease.
There is also a cemetery about 100 yards from the Ebola treatment centre, where there are presently over 160 people buried there. I was overwhelmed by how much care was put into creating a respectful and dignified place to lay the deceased. The names are clearly marked on posted signs and against the backdrop of the stunning countryside, I couldn’t help but think that it was… beautiful and serene. This cemetery will be here long after the Red Cross moves on, so they wanted to establish a cemetery fit to honour the innocent lives lost, and one in which their loved ones could return for years and years to come to pay their respects...and I think they have accomplished that.
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Photo credit: Jari Lindholm / IFRC
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On my first day, I witnessed my first burial at the centre and sadly, I have since witnessed many more. Supervising burials and supporting family members who may be present for loved ones is part of my role at the centre. Sometimes family can be located, sometimes there is not enough time for them to get to the burial, and sometimes there is no family left. In the absence of family members, any and all staff members are invited to attend. At the ceremonies, both Christian and Muslim prayers are said, as the religion of the person is often unknown, and whatever
is known about the person is incorporated into a personalized eulogy.
When a confirmed patient recovers from Ebola – first of all, this is always a very joyful occasion at the Ebola treatment centre – he or she must go through something that has been affectionately called the "
Happy Shower". This is a mandatory process involving the complete decontamination of the patient. When this is complete, the psychosocial support worker connects with the individual to help prepare him or her to reintegrate into the community. This includes reviewing mental health and general readiness to return to the community, including fears of stigmatization and rejection (which is a major problem) and ensuring that they have a safe place to go.
I am so happy to be here, working alongside such an incredible group of Red Cross staff, both the international delegates and those from the Sierra Leone National Society… and so happy to be back in Africa.
Want to know more about how the Red Cross is responding to Ebola? Read these inspiring stories of Ebola survivors and the latest update from Canadian nurse Patrice Gordon.
The Canadian Red Cross is recruiting trained healthcare personnel to respond to the Ebola outbreak.
Canadians can donate to the West Africa Ebola Fund to support ongoing efforts.