Marie Claire Tchecola facts for kids
Marie Claire Tchecola is a brave nurse from Guinea. She survived the Ebola sickness. Now, she works hard to teach people about diseases. She also helps fight unfair treatment (called stigma) against those who have been sick. In 2015, she received a special award called the International Women of Courage Award from the United States.
Contents
Marie Claire Tchecola's Story
Early Life and Becoming a Nurse
Marie Claire Tchecola grew up in a small village in Guinea. This village was close to the border of Senegal. She was the first girl in her family to go to school and get an education. She studied hard and became a nurse. She worked at Donka Hospital in Conakry, the capital city of Guinea.
Facing Ebola
In July 2014, Marie Claire got sick with Ebola. She caught the virus while caring for a very sick patient. At that time, there were not enough healthcare workers. There was also a lack of basic protective gear. This made it easy for the disease to spread quickly in West Africa.
Marie Claire knew the signs of Ebola. She quickly went to a treatment center. This helped stop the disease from spreading to others. She learned that not believing the facts or having wrong information can stop people from getting help. It can also stop them from taking care.
Life After Recovery
After getting better, Marie Claire went back to work. She returned to her job as an emergency room nurse at Donka Hospital. But her problems were not over.
Her landlord made her leave her home. This happened because of fear and wrong ideas about Ebola. Many other survivors faced similar problems. Friends stopped visiting them. Employers would not let them return to work. Some communities thought Ebola meant death. They avoided survivors. Children and teens were sometimes left by their families. It was hard for them to find new homes.
The situation for children was very sad. More than 4,000 children in Guinea became orphans. This was because of the Ebola outbreak.
Helping Others as a Survivor
People who survive Ebola seem to be immune to the disease. This means they cannot get it again. Because of this, UNICEF asked them for help. Survivors could touch and comfort children who had lost their families. This was something staff in protective suits could not do.
Marie Claire Tchecola is dedicated to helping others. She wants to make people aware of Ebola. She teaches how to prevent it. She also fights against unfair treatment of survivors. She is part of the Ebola Survivors Association of Guinea. This group helps people who have survived the disease. They offer support and understanding.
