Ebola Response in DRC Risks Slowdown Due to Shortage of Donors

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on donors to continue funding the response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) or risk backsliding.

According to WHO, there is an urgent need for 14.8 billion shillings (US $148 million) for all partners involved in the response to continue their work but only under 1 billion shillings (US $10 million) has been pledged.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who is scheduled for a visit in DRC termed the situation on the ground as unprecedented since there has never been such an acute Ebola outbreak as the current one has affected such a huge population leading to gaps in the health system.

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“The security context is another major concern. I am deeply saddened by reports that a health facility run by Médecins Sans Frontières in Katwa was attacked on Sunday night. Nevertheless, together with partners and with the DRC government in the lead, we have made major gains. Hundreds of deaths have been averted, maybe even thousands. But the outbreak is not over and we urgently need additional funding to see it through.” said Dr. Tedros.

Data from the WHO shows that over 80,000 people have been vaccinated with over 400 others having received treatment. Thousands of suspect cases have also been monitored, tested and transferred to other centers once they were confirmed to not have Ebola.

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Furthermore, more than 40,000 contacts have been identified and reached daily for three weeks each to ensure they did not fall sick as well. WHO alone has shipped over 300 metric tons of supplies, including vaccination supplies and 470,000 sets of personal protective equipment for partners running treatment centers.

Alongside the response in the country, hundreds of health workers, border officers and other responders in neighboring countries have been trained and prepared for responding to a potential case.

Response partners have contained the outbreak in successive health zones, and prevented transmission to neighboring countries, demonstrating that success is possible despite the difficult context.

The response plan for the period February to July, which brings together the planned actions and funding needs of all partners, was launched by the country’s health minister on 13 February. It anchors the response in local health system structures, strengthening the capacities of local responders, especially at provincial and local levels, and deepening the involvement of local communities, especially women’s groups, and survivors.

“We have a shared responsibility to end this outbreak,” said Dr. Tedros, adding that the continuing generous technical and financial support from the donor community is proof of the global commitment to stopping the outbreak.  “We now need them to join us in the final push. No country or partner can face this deadly virus alone. The impact on public health and the economic ramifications can expand far beyond one country or continent. We promise we won’t relent until we’ve stopped this outbreak. But beating Ebola, wherever it may be, is expensive. It requires all of us to work together.”

The current Ebola outbreak in DRC has been termed as the worst between 2014 and 2016 where it killed more than 11,000 people. It is also the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record.

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