NATIONAL NEWS - The outbreak has become the largest and deadliest Ebola outbreak in the country’s history and continues to spread within communities already facing conflict, violence, displacement and hunger, as well as other health emergencies.

MSF is calling for a faster and more flexible response, with an urgent focus on training health workers and community leaders in case detection, referrals, infection prevention and control measures.

More than 2,400 people have died

Over the past week, Ebola deaths have been reported at a rate of roughly one every 30 minutes.

Since the outbreak began, and as of 16 August, national authorities have reported more than 5 000 confirmed cases and over 2 400 deaths.

“This epidemic continues to spread, moving faster than the response can keep up,” says Dr Javid Abdelmoneim, International President of MSF.

“Treatment centres remain essential for saving lives, but this response needs more than extra beds. It needs better detection, safe isolation for sick people and their contacts, and support to health workers.

“People seeking care in existing health facilities also need to be protected from infection. Crucially, the response must be built with communities, not around them.”

Community leaders play key role in response

In Rho displacement camp, near Drodro in Ituri, community leaders have worked with MSF to encourage people experiencing symptoms to seek testing, isolation and treatment as early as possible.

They also promote infection prevention and control measures to reduce the risk of community transmission.

The overcrowded camp is home to nearly 50,000 people, and MSF says collaboration with community leaders has helped limit the spread of Ebola and reduce mortality.

“We know our communities and how to reach our people,” says Ezrome Kiza Lumani, a community leader living in the camp.

“When Ebola arrived, we did not wait. We spoke with families, listened to their fears, and encouraged people with symptoms to seek care. We have a crucial role to play in stopping this outbreak.”

Most Ebola deaths occurring outside treatment centres

Since the outbreak was officially declared, more than 60% of Ebola-related deaths in the DRC have occurred outside Ebola treatment centres, often far from where treatment is available.

This means many people are dying at home or within their communities without receiving care, while the virus continues to spread before cases are detected.

Case numbers are also rising rapidly beyond the epicentre in Ituri, with North Kivu province experiencing particularly high levels of mortality and mistrust in the response.

“With cases emerging in new areas with little or no previous experience managing Ebola disease, Ebola-trained healthcare workers are urgently needed not only inside treatment centres, but also directly in affected communities,” says Trish Newport, MSF’s emergency programme manager in Ituri province.

MSF expands Ebola response

MSF is currently responding across Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Tshopo and Haut-Uélé provinces.

Its teams are operating six Ebola treatment centres and isolation units in affected areas, with more than 400 beds available. This represents about one-third of all beds in the overall response.

More than 1,400 MSF staff are supporting the response.

Since the outbreak began, MSF teams have admitted more than 2,000 patients, of whom more than 800 were confirmed to have Ebola disease.

In Beni, North Kivu province, MSF has also worked to bring its response closer to affected communities by supporting existing health facilities that provide general healthcare services.

This allows systematic and symptomatic treatment to begin more quickly, while ensuring that people can access essential healthcare closer to home.

Health workers need urgent training

MSF says more needs to be done to ensure people can receive the care they need within their communities.

“Health workers and community leaders need training to help detect cases early, refer people safely, reinforce infection prevention and control, and protect themselves and others from infection,” says Newport.

“The World Health Organization (WHO), other UN agencies, humanitarian organisations, including MSF, and the Congolese Ministry of Health must urgently expand this training and support.”

Ebola survivors urge communities to seek care early

Community leaders are also sharing their experiences to encourage people to seek medical attention as soon as symptoms appear.

One of them, Emery Guba Mateso from Rho displacement camp, lost his son to Ebola and later survived the disease himself.

“As a person who has recovered from Ebola disease, the message I would like to share with the community is: as soon as the first symptoms appear, it is important to seek medical care promptly, because early access to appropriate treatment increases the chances of recovery,” says Guba Mateso.

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