Christian aid organisations mobilise emergency Ebola response in Democratic Republic of Congo

Christian aid organisations are mobilising emergency health responses within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following a deadly Ebola outbreak within the country’s north-east that has prompted international concern.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on May 15 after cases linked to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola were detected in Ituri province. 

According to WHO, there will not be yet any authorised vaccine or treatment for the strain involved within the outbreak.

Tearfund said its teams within the DRC have already begun working with churches and native faith leaders to assist slow the spread of the virus through public education campaigns focused on hygiene, early symptom reporting and secure burial practices.

Following a visit from Bunia in Ituri province, Poppy Anguandia, Tearfund’s country director within the DRC, warned that the outbreak poses a serious threat due to the region’s highly mobile population.

Over 170 people have already died and over 750 suspected cases identified. Anguandia said that population movement was making contact tracing increasingly difficult.

“We can waste no time in mobilising faith leaders to stop the spread of Ebola,” said Anguandia, adding that pastors were already sharing practical guidance on handwashing, looking for medical help, and safely handling the bodies of victims so as to reduce transmission.

Tearfund has launched an emergency appeal to answer the crisis. 

Anguandia added, “The numbers are growing fast and timing is critical. This outbreak is situated in a densely populated region characterised by high levels of internal and cross-border migration. All the dominoes are set for a serious disaster. 

“In the DRC people often have to choose from water to drink or water to scrub their hands. Many people don’t have access to running water and sometimes need to walk for miles to gather even a small amount.”

The organisation, which has operated in Ituri province for greater than a decade, said it had rapidly activated communication networks across local communities to distribute public health information and support preventative measures.

The charity also highlighted the broader humanitarian challenges facing the region, noting that many families lack access to basic sanitation supplies comparable to soap and clean water, that are critical in containing outbreaks of infectious disease.

Cuts to humanitarian aid lately have placed additional pressure on charities and healthcare providers responding to crises in vulnerable communities.

During previous Ebola outbreaks between 2018 and 2020, Tearfund partnered with health centres to put in clean water facilities, triage and isolation units, latrines and incinerators as a part of emergency response efforts.

The charity also previously worked alongside church leaders and native communities on awareness campaigns that included radio broadcasts, public announcements, music and door-to-door education initiatives delivered in local languages, geared toward reducing transmission and countering stigma surrounding Ebola survivors.

Samaritan’s Purse announced that it’s deploying a specialist disaster response team to the DRC as cases proceed to rise.

The initial deployment is anticipated to incorporate outbreak specialists, engineers, infection prevention experts and medical personnel tasked with bolstering local mission hospitals and strengthening infection control measures.

The Christian relief organisation said it’s also preparing, in collaboration with the DRC government, an Ebola Treatment Centre and shipments of non-public protective equipment for healthcare staff serving affected communities.

President of Samaritan’s Purse, Franklin Graham, said: “Samaritan’s Purse has been on the frontlines of fighting Ebola for greater than a decade, and we aren’t going to stop now. We are going to do all the pieces we will to assist save lives. We want people to know that God loves them, they usually are usually not alone.”

Samaritan’s Purse has previously operated Ebola treatment centres in each Liberia and the DRC during earlier outbreaks, while also carrying out large-scale public health education campaigns involving hundreds of church leaders and native volunteers.