A survivor discharge certificate, to confirm that an individual has been succesfully treated for Ebola and no longer poses a risk to the community, sanctioned by the Sierra Leone government and used by health workers during the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, 2014-2015

When a person had been treated for Ebola and no longer could pass on the virus to others, they were discharged from health care facilities and given a survivor’s certificate in a special ceremony. The certificate has space for the person’s name, age, sex, village/town, chiefdom, and district. The final sentence records where they were looked after and that they are “now free of the Ebola Virus Disease. He/She does not pose any risk to their community. He/She has been adequately counselled and is fit to return to his/her home.”

Produced by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, of the Government of Sierra Leone, survivor certificates aim to prevent discrimination for those who have recovered from the virus. Ebola is transmitted such as through contact with blood and body fluids of someone with an active infection. Some people lost their jobs and others lost their homes after being evicted over fears of the virus spreading. Many people help raise awareness about the virus in their local communities. On average around 50% of people survive Ebola but can be as low as 10%.

The West African epidemic of Ebola that began in 2014 was the most widespread outbreak of the virus disease in history—causing major loss of life and disruption to society and the economy, mainly in the countries of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. It became international news and prompted an international medical response. In June 2016 when Guinea was the last country to be declared free of Ebola, there were more than 28,000 cases and more than 11,000 deaths. Since 2021, a vaccine has been available to protect high-risk populations and frontline workers.