The NGO Action Against Hunger has communicated that it is reorganizing part of its operations to face the emergency generated by the Ebola outbreak declared in the Democratic Republic of Congo and to reinforce the joint work with the country's health centers.
"We are present in the Mongbwalu health zone, the most affected by the outbreak, and in three other health zones in Ituri, where we fear new contagions may occur in the coming days," declared the director of this organization in the aforementioned African nation, Julie Drouet, who added that they are working "in close coordination with the health and administrative authorities of the area."
The official detailed that Action Against Hunger's teams "are highly mobilized to support health centers as effectively as possible, in order to protect health personnel, who are especially exposed to the risk of infection." Along these lines, the organization has indicated that in Mongbwalu it is assisting 12 health centers to which it provides "protective equipment for medical personnel."
Likewise, the NGO has indicated that it supplies "supplies for infection prevention and control," including "chlorine, sprayers for disinfection," and "cleaning materials." All of this is being carried out in a scenario where "the number of victims of the Ebola outbreak, officially declared on May 15, continues to increase," given that "more than 120 confirmed cases, more than 900 suspected cases, and more than 220 deaths have been registered in the province of Ituri and North Kivu."
Weakened health system and lack of resources
The organization warns that "the current outbreak is destabilizing already fragile health services in this remote area," and recalls that "only 37 percent of the population has access to a source of drinking water and only 30 percent of health centers have a reliable water supply." Under these conditions, "infection prevention measures, such as hand washing, are difficult to implement," Drouet explained.
"That is why we are also supporting health centers through the rehabilitation of water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructures," he insisted, before remarking that "for the moment, even humanitarian flights to and from the areas affected by Ebola are suspended, which complicates the movement of teams." The NGO also warns that "funding also remains very limited, which hinders the planning of activities."
In the current phase of the emergency, Drouet has stressed that Action Against Hunger does not consider halting the emergency programs that are already underway. "Our teams must adapt the way activities are carried out to protect communities and our staff, in order to break the chain of virus transmission, but our emergency actions must continue," he concluded.