© UNFPA A nurse in the Democratic Republic of Congo wears a mask to protect against Ebola. Ebola in DR Congo: UN Secretary General calls on the world to overcome the “virus of indifference” Healthcare
The current Ebola outbreak has become the largest in the history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the fastest growing epidemic of this disease in the history of monitoring. At the same time, international attention and the resources provided to the country do not yet correspond to the scale of the crisis, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday.
“My main message is this: this outbreak is the fastest growing Ebola epidemic on record. It spreads faster and over a wider area compared to measures to contain it. But it can be stopped,” the UN chief told reporters in New York.
According to him, experts know how to interrupt the transmission of infection and save lives. However, to do this, it is necessary to defeat another “virus”.
“We must also overcome another virus, the virus of indifference,” Guterres said. According to him, international attention, political will and resources continue to lag behind the real situation on the ground.
More than 2,700 dead
As of August 25, 5,713 cases of Ebola have been confirmed in the DR Congo, 2,744 people died.
“About 500 new cases are being reported weekly and the outbreak continues to spread across a wide area. “At the same time, women and children are especially hard hit,” said the UN chief. In Ituri province alone, three decades of conflict have displaced a million people and severely limited the population’s access to food, health care and other basic services.
In total, more than 12 million people in the region are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection. Health systems are overwhelmed, infrastructure remains weak, and some areas are difficult to reach.
Healthcare workers work in dangerous conditions
Staff directly involved in the fight against the epidemic are at particular risk. More than 40 health workers have died trying to save others. Additionally treatment centers and ambulances are being attacked.
“Humanitarian workers face both the threat of a virus and the threat of violence. They deserve our recognition and support,” Guterres said. The UN has also created the post of Senior Ebola Coordinator.
© UNICEF/K. Ndomba Mbikayi A shipment of Ebola-Zaire vaccines has arrived in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, to evaluate effectiveness against the Bundibugyo virus.
The work is focused on five priorities: engaging with local communities to build trust and counter fear and misinformation; strengthening epidemiological surveillance to more quickly identify and isolate sick people; expanding treatment and care options; ensuring safe and dignified burials for the dead; as well as preventing further spread of the virus.
With millions of people connected by the Congo River and busy transport routes in the area, the UN is strengthening preparedness measures in South Sudan and the Central African Republic, as well as coordination among countries in the region. The African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plays an important role, according to the Secretary General.
Money remains for only a few weeks
The UN and partners have already allocated more than $80 million to fight the crisis.
Humanitarian plan worth $2.13 billion was only 48 percent funded, thanks in large part to a large contribution from the United States. However, existing resources will only last for a few weeks, the Secretary-General warned.
Without funding, vital operations could be halted when the response needs to be scaled up. Guterres therefore called for the missing $1.1 billion to fully fund the humanitarian plan, noting that additional resources will be needed going forward.
“The world still has an opportunity to get ahead of this crisis. But time is not on our side,” he said.
“The international community has the knowledge, tools and resources to stop this outbreak. Now is the time to show collective resolve and act before the cost becomes even higher in terms of loss of life, complexity and cost,” stressed the Secretary General.