Women Survivors Leading Post-Ebola Recovery in West Africa

The Ebola Transmission Prevention and Survivor Services Program, supported by Advancing Partners & Communities (APC), is helping to build self-reliant survivor organizations and sustainable health systems in the region. Women leaders of these organizations are stepping up to address challenges such as stigma, discrimination, and ongoing physical and mental health complications. In Sierra Leone, Glenna Beckley, the finance officer for the Sierra Leone Association of Ebola Survivors (SLAES) executive team, is a prime example of a woman leader making a difference. Despite facing challenges as a woman on a mostly male leadership team, Glenna is proud of female Ebola survivors who are working together to mobilize resources and improve access to care. She trains survivors on financial procedures and advocates for women to take leadership positions, urging them to be patient and strong in pursuing their goals. In Liberia, Bendu Lansana, the treasurer for the National Ebola Survivor Network, is a positive example for other women. As the only woman on the national leadership team, Bendu advocates for mental health support for Ebola survivors and works to end stigma and discrimination. She hopes that more female Ebola survivors will take leadership positions in their communities, emphasizing the importance of women's input and advice in decision-making processes. In Guinea, Ivonne Seny Loua, the Vice President of RENASEG, the national Ebola survivor association, is committed to changing the public perception of Ebola survivors and reintegrating them into society. A medical doctor herself, Ivonne provides psychosocial support services to survivors in the remote forest region of eastern Guinea. She is passionate about creating revenue-generating activities for Ebola survivors, particularly women, and hopes that her work will help women be independent. APC has supported local hospitals, such as Eternal Love Winning Africa (ELWA) hospital, to provide necessary health services to survivors. Counseling from ELWA hospital has helped survivors manage their anger better, and APC has also supported sensitization programs to improve access to care at health facilities for survivors who are denied services due to stigma and discrimination. The work of women leaders like Glenna, Bendu, and Ivonne is crucial in promoting gender equality and improving the lives of Ebola survivors in West Africa.