The Road to Recovery: Samoa's Measles Epidemic
20 May 2020
With a total of 1,216 people from 140 families who have lost 70 children to the measles outbreak in November and December 2019 assisted by the SVSG Measles Outreach Program, Samoa Victim Support Group knew that the road to recovery to help rebuild our affected families, required kindness, generosity and hard work.
Throughout January and February 2020, SVSG hit the Road to Recovery, taking the Group back to the families who have lost children to the measles.
We saw how death had brought families closer together. There was an appreciative feeling towards life in general among families who have lost children to the measles, especially knowing how precious life is when seeing loved ones taken too soon.
For other families, there remain to be too many children not in school as the parents were not yet fully recovered as they were still in mourning. Even the children who were affected by the measles and have recovered still looked weak.
For 19 years old Noella Fa’atauu’u, who was 7 months into her pregnancy when she lost her 12 months old daughter Noel to the measles, we found her with another bundle of joy. She smiled to us through her tears when we visited her in February, as she cradled her 6 weeks old Baby Miracle. We could tell how Noella's newborn has helped her recover from losing her eldest child to the measles, despite the pain still visible behind her smile.
With time, wounds left by the departed children victims of the measles will heal. And through your kindness and generosity, we have paved the road to recovery for our affected families here in Samoa.
We pray for you and your families safety as we are faced with the global challenges of the COVID-19.
From your family here at Samoa Victim Support Group, stay safe and stay blessed.
