MONROVIA, December 8 (LINA)-The Regional Director of a Faith based Non-Governmental Organization”, Young Life in West Africa, James Davies, is challenging Liberians to joyfully accept Ebola survivors.
He particularly called on community dwellers and landlords or house owners to embrace those who have been fortunate to return from the various Ebola Treatment Units (ETUs) and stop frustrating them with stigmatization.
Davis made the statement over the weekend at the Baptist Seminary Youth Camp during the start of a three-day camp which brought together over 100 Ebola survivors in the country.
He expressed fear that stigmatizing Ebola survivors will expose them to grave suspicion and discourage others affected from willingly volunteering to report themselves for treatment to any Ebola Treatment Units or health facilities for fear of being branded or isolated by their own community dwellers or friends.
Mr. Davies noted that the action of the landlords or house owners and community dwellers could also lead them to spread the virus to others because they would be hiding the virus as carriers due to fear of being called Ebola victims.
He also frowned on landlords or house owners who refuse Ebola survivors wishing to rent their houses for fear that they and their family members will contract the Ebola disease adding,” it is more dangerous to stigmatize Ebola survivors.”
According to him, all of the Ebola survivors have horrible experiences and that it was necessary to assemble them to explain their stories to each other as a way of removing the stress they encountered
He said Young Life's involvement is aimed at buttressing government’s efforts to provide more assistance for Ebola survivors and promised to also assist with food and non-food items and other provisions since the belongings of the survivors were destroyed upon being taken to the ETU.
LINA