Ebola survivor Fanta Fanta plays with children in her community in Guinea
While Ebola has seemingly been pushed aside for recent breaking news matters, the epidemic is still raging on in parts of West Africa. A social media campaign, #ISurvivedEbola, has brought together survivors of the deadly disease and a new mobile app was launched last week that furthers the multimedia outreach campaign.
SEE ALSO: The Root Cause: Reflecting on my Trip to Ebola Stricken Liberia
Keep Up With Face2Face Africa On Facebook!
The #ISurvivedEbola is part of a global effort where Ebola survivors can share their stories, offer tips to those in danger of contracting the disease, and engage an increasingly wary public who are hoping for an absolute eradication. The campaign’s website also shares resources for users and galvanizes on-the-ground efforts of health professionals combating Ebola daily.
A report from AllAfrica.com has more:
The innovative digital tool debuted in Guinea on January 5th. It is being piloted by the first Guinean survivor to share her story with the #ISurvivedEbola campaign. The updates from the app appear on the newly launched #ISurvivedEbola website, which also houses the stories of a growing community of Ebola survivors from Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.
In the first-ever message sent via the mobile app, Camara “Fanta” Fantaoulen (pictured top) of Guinea stated in French:
“Yes, I survived Ebola, thanks to the help of the brave healthcare workers who treated me. And I’ve learned that together, we can defeat this virus and protect our families and communities.”
After losing her father and five other family members to suspected or confirmed Ebola, Fanta believed her death was imminent when she tested positive for the virus. Thanks to a combination of early treatment, strict adherence to her treatment plan, and sheer determination, Fanta recovered from the virus and is now providing psychosocial support to Ebola patients.
The #ISurvivedEbola campaign is funded by Paul G. Allen’s Vulcan Productions. It is linked to the #TackleEbola initiative and supported by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation’s commitment of at least $100 million for Ebola relief. The campaign’s rollout is organized by PCI Media Impact in collaboration with UNICEF.
To learn more, visit the #ISurvivedEbola campaign website.
SEE ALSO: Time Magazine Chooses Ebola Fighters as its “Person of the Year‘
