Orphaned by Ebola: Aminata's story

Aminata is 12 years old. She lives within one of World Vision’s Area Development Programmes in Bo District, in southern Sierra Leone. Like too many other children here, Aminata has been orphaned by the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history.

Aminata’s parents died of Ebola within ten days of each other. Her elder sister, 28, followed them, just after testing positive for the disease.

Aminata is still haunted by the screech of the ambulance sirens as they come and cart away the dead and dying. The noise has become one of the most recognized sounds around here, lingering in the hearts and minds of those who are left behind to pick up the pieces after their loved ones have been taken away.

‘The ambulance came for my mother and she never came back. It came for my father, and my elder sister too. None of them returned.’

‘The ambulance came for my mother and she never came back. It came for my father, and my elder sister too. None of them returned,’ says Aminata.

Shortly after the deaths of her family, Aminata started complaining of a sore throat. Her tonsils were swollen, she felt feverish and had pain in her joints. Health workers were alerted and thought she may be coming down with Ebola too. But Aminata’s strong faith suggested otherwise. ‘The ambulance came for me, but I told them my own case will be different. I kept praying to God and He saved me,’ Aminata says, adding:

‘They took a blood sample to test for Ebola. I was at the isolation centre for six days. When they told me I did not have Ebola, I was so happy. I am not happy living without my parents, but I thank God I am alive and free from Ebola.’

World Vision has been following up on Aminata, who is a registered child in our sponsorship programme, to ensure she is cared for and protected.

‘World Vision has done so much for me and my family. They have been supporting us and giving us foodstuffs; a bag of rice; oil; a carton of dried fish; a bag of onions; salt, pepper; seasoning. They’ve also provided us with a bucket, soap, chlorine, and other things to protect ourselves from the virus,’ she says.

Aminata's friends no longer visit or want to play with her. They are too scared of being infected by Ebola.

But since coming back from the isolation centre, Aminata's friends no longer visit or want to play with her. They are too scared of being infected by Ebola, even though she has tested negative. Now, she only plays with her surviving brothers and sisters.

‘Ebola, poverty and thoughts about being an outcast are some of the challenges I am facing today. Not being able to see my parent’s and sister’s remains was the worst experience of my life. I don’t even know where they are buried,’ Aminata says, adding: 'the only positive experience I have to speak about now is about how I survived the Ebola virus.’

Aminata used to love going to school and attending lessons. But now she can’t do that and doesn’t know when schools will re-open and she can carry on with her learning.

Aminata’s late father had two wives. She used to stay with her late father and mother, whilst her step-mother stayed at another house. Aminata now stays with her step mother, Titty, who is the Town Chief of her village.

Titty explains what it’s like to be a widow. ‘Ebola has caused serious damage in my home. My husband is dead; other family members are dead, too. My husband who used to take care of us, is no more. Who will help me pay the children’s school fees?’ she asks, tears welling up.

Less than a month has passed since Aminata’s parents and sister died and Aminata is still very sad about losing her parents.

Ever since my mother and father died, I have not been feeling well. I can’t get used to turning round and not seeing them there.

‘Ever since my mother and father died, I have not been feeling well. I can’t get used to turning round and not seeing them there. And I miss all the wonderful things they used to do for me. But I thank God I survived and did not die of Ebola,’ she concludes.

You can help support the work World Vision is doing to support children like Aminata, who have been affected by Ebola, here.