KAKATA, Margibi – The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, with support from the Economic Community of West African States, has provided assorted food and supplies as well as LD $2,500 (US $25) each to survivors and orphans of Ebola in five of Liberia’s 15 counties.

Siannah Wisseh, the supervisor of orphanages at the ministry, announced that a team of social workers is currently in Montserrado, Grand Bassa, Bong, and Lofa to distribute supplies to children affected by Ebola. She said she was grateful to ECOWAS for its support.

“We can’t reach all the children affected by Ebola for now, but we hope to reach out to over 2,000 children,” Wisseh added.

Wisseh also noted that the ministry was providing lump sums of US $150, with support from UNICEF, to about 8,000 children affected by Ebola. This is expected to help them enter school in time for the 2016-2017 academic year.

“We [are] thankful to Save the Children, UNICEF, and Samaritan Purse for giving support to [the] Ebola affected children,” Wisseh said, before encouraging caregivers of those children to continue their support. She noted that it was better for the children to be cared for within homes, instead of in orphanages.

Marie Chenneh, a guardian to six child orphans, said her family was grateful to the ministry for its continuous support, but that they need more help when it comes to educating the children.

Featured photo by Emmanuel Degleh