Aisha and her son, both survivors.
Aisha and her son are survivors of the deadly Ebola virus. But now, they face another battle—rebuilding their lives after everything they once knew fell apart. Aisha lost her husband to the disease; her eldest child is out of school due to financial constraints, and she faces accusations from her husband’s family, who blame her for his death.
With support from the U.S. Government, Baylor Foundation Uganda (BFU) is working with the Ministry of Health to provide mental health and psychosocial support to survivors like Aisha. These services have helped her navigate the trauma and begin to heal.
Godfrey Nyanja, a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Officer, and Dr. Michael Nanjubu, a Medical Officer—both with BFU—conduct regular phone counselling sessions with Aisha, offering emotional support and encouragement.
“You’ve been there for me. At times you call when I am down,” she said. “If you were not there, I would still be in the stage of helplessness. But now I am able to solve the challenges that I have.”
According to Dr. Michael, Aisha has made tremendous progress: “In the past when I would call her, she couldn’t speak for five minutes without breaking down. Now, she’s able to tell her complete story with composure.”
Aisha is one of ten survivors from this outbreak who are struggling to rebuild their lives. With continued support, they can overcome emotional and psychological challenges and lay onto the hope of a future.
