The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection says it has recorded 3,231Ebola affected children in the country.
Making the disclosure Wednesday at the Ministry of Information, the Deputy Gender Minister for Children and Social Protection, Lydia Mai Sherman said as part of the challenges
incurred due to the outbreak of the Ebola virus disease, the government was exploring solutions to meet the needs of the children.
Minister Sherman disclosed that in collaboration with UNICEF, the Ministry and partners had identified family members who were taking care of some of the children.
“Some family members are taking care of the children and we are providing financial and psychosocial supports to family that taking care of the children. The program will come to an end in February 2015, but we will embark on another after that,” Minister Sherman added.
Meanwhile, as schools prepare to reopen in the wake of pronouncement by the government for the resumption of classes following prolonged closure due to the deadly Ebola epidemic, many children orphaned as a result of the death of their parents or one parent might be without school.
Many children who lost parents are said to face huge devastation and economic loss as a result of the virus are now wondering how to continue their education.
These children are asking the Liberian government through the Ministry of Education and UNICEF to offer them scholarship to continue their education. Many say without this, they could lose their seats in the classroom during the academic calendar year.
“We are working along with the Ministry of Education and UNICEF in trying to get some Ebola orphans into schools,” Madam Sherman said. “Up to date, the entire country, we have recorded 3,231 Ebola-affected children. In term of education, we have figured out how many of these children should be placed in boarding schools, and that assessment is ongoing in five mission schools”.
However, there is still a lingering stigma surrounding these children even after the 21-day incubation period is over. Many of them remain in centers to be connected to their families members or they are placed in loving homes.