DR Congo: CAFOD reports 111 Ebola cases in unstable area

Bishop Sikuli at Mangina with Emmanuel Bofoe and Ebola doctors. Image: Emmanuel Bofoe

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has now reached a crucial point as cases are confirmed in a highly unstable area.

The Health Ministry in DRC has received reports of 111 cases of Ebola, with 83 confirmed and 28 probable, centred in North Kivu Provence.

Of these cases, 14 healthcare workers have been infected, with one who has died.

Mr Emmanuel Bofoe Lomalisa, a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) specialist in charge of the emergency projects for Caritas Congo, a partner of UK aid agency CAFOD, has been deployed in North Kivu since the beginning of August. He has been supporting local communities affected by this epidemic and is coordinating the response on behalf of the Caritas network in the DRC.

He said: "The response to this epidemic is in an area that is very unsafe from a security point of view.

"The humanitarian and health workers are themselves are exposed to attacks by armed groups, particularly in the villages around Mangina, Mandima, Mambasa, Niania, and Oicha. This deadly combination of conflict and Ebola disease is a real problem for an adequate response, in order to contain this epidemic.

"During this time, we have been able to mobilise people through community relays. Catholic parishes have remained in the foreground, helping to communicate advised behavioural changes to the community.

"We have worked with communities to help them detect the warning signs. And, we encourage them to come as soon as they suspect they are infected.

"Several needs are still not covered, especially in relation to the preparation of the start of the new school year, which will be announced for the next two weeks."

"There are still questions on how to prepare this school year for the children, in a context where this epidemic presents a high risk of contamination."

Since July, the Health Ministry in DRC has confirmed 42 deaths from Ebola, with another 27 deaths that were suspected to be from Ebola.