We're health workers in Sierra Leone, responding to the Ebola outbreak with Save the Children - AMA!

How has the outbreak affected communities/ culture and the way people carry on their daily lives?

Our economy came to a standstill. No schools, no social gatherings, particularly watching the premiership games in public cinemas! It particular it affected our cultural traditions of taking care of the dead - normally when somebody is sick we expect relatives to be the first care givers and when a relative dies we have to treat that person as if he or she is alive - hugging them, crying with them, but with Ebola it mustn't happen.

will it go back to normal soon?

We are treading back to normalcy - even though we haven't 100% beaten Ebola yet, schools will reopen this month, we just have to watch out, especially for the children in Kindergarten schools.

What do you think of the international response to the ebola crisis?

The response sadly came late. But it wasn't for nothing - it has had a good impact and it's changed our thinking. If the international community had put money in sooner - in particular for water and sanitation hygiene, the virus would not have spread as it did in our country

The response sadly came late. But it wasn't for nothing - it has had a good impact and it's changed our thinking. If the international community had put money in sooner - in particular for water and sanitation hygiene, the virus would not have spread as it did in our country

There was talk months ago about a vaccine or cure for ebola being developed, but I largely feel this was just a ploy to calm Americans when the disease traveled here. Do you happen to know of any real and lasting efforts to prevent an outbreak of this magnitude from happening again?

In order to stop an outbreak like this happening again, the international community need to support healthcare systems. There are more than 25 countries who have worse healthcare systems than we did and are therefore very vulnerable. Money needs to go in to these countries BEFORE the outbreak happens. We need to make sure that every child has access to healthcare.

Can you describe the process of treating someone who may have ebola?

In treating a person with Ebola we have to pay more attention in preventing contraction of the disease from the person. That is first - secondly, we have to prevent cross contamination that a person with Ebola does not pass it to a person who is just a suspect and might not have it. Then, we strengthen the person and try to boost their morale. This is then followed by clinical treatment.

do you ever get annoyed that everyone only asks about how ebola affects america?

No - for us, Ebola very much affects Sierra Leone and we haven't experienced people asking about how it only affects America ! It doesn't really matter. We all have the same right to protect our citizens. If you don't want Ebola in your country, it's good to fight against it.

How did you find your calling in life and enter your line of work?

Fanday: Because I want to help people, especially people who have been affected by Ebola - To help the country and to help donors fight against the sickness.

Sillah: I've got kids and that's the posterity for Sierra Leone - I did it for the children.

Thank you both for your selfless devotion to some of the most marginalized and forgotten people in this large world.

We are not forgotten. It is just because people prioritise things. It makes us feel good that you reply to us and we feel we are just one big family. After all, in the ETC, we all go into the red zone - Sierra Leoneons, as well as international staff. We all put our lives at risk.

are you scared you'll catch it ?

No. I'm not scared - on the contrary Ebola is scared of me !!

Aside from Ebola, there must be other patients with different, separate health issues. How do you prioritise patients, and prevent non-Ebola patients from contracting the virus? Are there separate facilities?

Here, we are an Ebola Treatment Centre. There are other more general facilities but they are struggling as so many Sierra Leoneon healthcare workers have been affected by the virus.

What are the key things that you want to happen to make the health system in Sierra Leone strong?

First, should be effective sensitisation in relation to good hygiene and clean water. We also need the strengthening of our medical facilities in all areas of our communities so that at least each child could have access to medical facilities within a radius of at least 5km so that no child dies of non-fatal illnesses. For example malaria is easy to treat if children can treatment quickly enough - even cholera. Sometimes people die of cholera when they didn't need to.

how do you stop the ebola going to other countrys like england??

If England had Ebola they wouldn't have spent tax-payers money fighting it here in Sierra Leone. I would not want even my worst enemy to have Ebola in his household not to mention nations that are helping our country. When people fly out of my country, they are testing for symptoms of Ebola and again when they land in countries like England. Lots of measures have been put in place to prevent the virus spreading internationally.

Are there long-terms effects on health for survivors of Ebola? Is there any support available to help them?

We have many survivors in our teams and some of them are the best workers we have. Now, there is support but in the long term, there is nothing unless the international community invests in healthcare.

what more could be done for those at risk of contracting ebola, in Sierra Leone, and in general? thanks for taking the time!

Taking the time is our pleasure. I believe there should be water and sanitation staff or volunteers in every village to respond to any emergency relating to infectious diseases such as Ebola, Malaria, Cholera ....