Comforting Children with Ebola

Openideo team: Rebecca B., Craig P., Deborah P. & friends; built on A Pi’s post

Comforting Children with Ebola

LonelyScaredTraumatized In Pain

Ideas for pre /during/ and post Ebola care

PRIORITY: comforting children with Ebola

Amidst the stress of generating global momentum to stop the

ebola epidemic, statistics reveal 20% of the sick are children. Providing the special attention this vulnerable group deserves not only protects a future generation, but also dignifies healthcare efforts further empowering them.

A holistic response to ebola involves pre- during- and post- ebola

strategies for suffering children : pre- (informative toys, “no-touch” games & songs…)

during- (comfort during transport to & time in field hospital)

Post- (counseling, ad campaigns for re-integration despite community fear)

This proposal focuses on DURING the hospital stay~

How can we increase children’s comfort and reduce their fear while being treated for ebola to help them through and reduce longterm psychological scarring

?

Could trama be reduced by providing friendlytactile, visual, and auditory cues ?

-Stuffed Animals-Friendly Photo Badges on care givers-Colorful, aesthetic hangings for wall or ceiling-Soothing music breaks during the days or to help sleep at night

Knitting clubs from aroundthe world could donatetheir time to knit lionsor other appropriate stuffedanimals for kids suffering Ebolaand/orthese could be sold indeveloped markets tocreate a targeted fundfor kids effected byebola

Lions for Sierra Leone

Google searchfor “knit lion”

Copper infused clothor yarn may haveDestructiveeffect on ebola cells

Duplicate stuffed animalsallow for hygiene protocol:Incinerating & replacing when needed

Liquid proof stuffedAnimals could beCreated from oldsail material or fromother impermeable materials, which wouldallow the toy to be disinfected

Waterproof Bags made fromRecycled sails

Knit Comfort Doves for Liberia

Putting a face on the PPE

A little moreHuman can go a long way