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It's a bittersweet day for 8-year-old Kennedy, who is about to step outside the Ebola Treatment Center (ETC) in Butembo, Democratic Republic of Congo.
On the one hand, he is cured.
On the other hand, he lost two members of his family because of the disease – and he does not know it yet.
Ebola has a mortality rate of about 50%. It is so everyday for psychologists who work alongside doctors, nurses and caregivers to explain the loss of family members and to help patients overcome grief.
Five psychologists and 11 psychosocial badistants, trained by the Danish Refugee Council and funded by UNICEF, work in Butembo, etc.
Kennedy's psychosocial badistant, Shabani Dezy, sits down with him for his session. He asks Kennedy a few questions first. Does he know that his sister and grandfather were also sick? When was the last time he saw them?
He then explains how they too were admitted to the ETC as suspected cases and transferred to the confirmed case service. He talks about the time spent with him and other health workers and the care that has been provided to them.
Finally, he asks what religious context belongs to Kennedy and explains that they went to heaven for their second life.
"Kennedy, if today we call you heroes, it's because God wanted you to stay alive because there is something you will accomplish in your life."
Mental health after Ebola
Outside the treatment center, Kennedy's family is waiting to receive him. His mother is still mourning the loss of his father and daughter. She too has worked with psychologist Dezy to move forward. He reminds her every time that she or Kennedy need help to come see him.
Dezy explains that the ongoing conflict has already traumatized residents of the region and that Ebola exacerbates the situation.
"Ebola is a new threat in this community. This has affected the mental health of all. It is a disease that kills so many people and everyone is afraid of death. This also affects the economy because decontamination efforts require the destruction of mattresses and other personal belongings. "
Then there is stigma. Some households have had several deaths in the family. Surviving family members tend to be stigmatized by the community that stops doing business with them or visits them.
"They say, it's the family that brought us Ebola. We do not want to have anything to do with them. My colleagues and I worked hard to understand the families' environment and to reintegrate them. "
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