Prevent the spread of Ebola in the DRC

Just days after an outbreak of Ebola in the DRC had been declard over, another was identiied in a completely different region. The current outbreak is far more serious than the one before it, as it has occured in a conflict affected environment that many people travel through, meaning the risk of spreading is far greater, and the situation is much harder to control.

As of August 13th 2018, the DRC Ministry of Health (MoH) and World Health Organisation (WHO) have reported 102 cases of which 39 cases are laboratory confirmed and 27 probable and 36 suspected cases. 42 death have been reported (15 among the confirmed cases and 27 among cases tentatively probable) translating into case fatality rate of 38,5% (15/39) among confirmed cases. The outbreak remains active in Beni territory in the north of Nord Kivu province, near Lake Edward and the border with Uganda, health zone Mabalako, Butembo, Oicha, Musiene and Beni. Most cases are reported in Mangina alone (WHO/MoH 13/08/2018). However as at August 13th, 7 confirmed cases with one death at community level were reported in Mandinma Health zone, Mambasa territory in Ituri Province confirming the fears that this outbreak will spread disproportionately in the twin provinces already freight with armed conflicts by armed groups and ethnic groups which could impede access and service delivery.

In summary, as of August 2018, there were:

• A total of 66 cases confirmed and probable of Ebola epidemiological surveillance including 4 new cases (39 confirmed and 27 probable).
• 36 suspected cases including 8 new cases.
• 42 deaths including 2 new ones.
• 8 health workers including 7 confirmed and 1 death. Among these 8 cases of health workers there are 4 new cases.
• 1,089 persons were confirmed ashaving contact with people with Ebola are being followed up.

Oxfam’s Response

To date Oxfam has reached 85,680 people including 19,204 men and 23,342 women  with access to water, sanitation and hygiene assistance and 36,687 people including 16,876 men and 19,810 women directly reached through awareness raising activities.

Oxfam's response has been split between the two affected areas Beni and Mangina.

Beni:

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

• Installed and handed over 50 handwashing points in Benin town to a Local NGO, (Unicef partner) to continue the follow-up of functionality of these points. This was done to enable Oxfam focus more on the epi-centre of the outbreak in Mangina (North Kivu) and Mandima (Ituri) where more Ebola cases are being reported.
• Participated in coordination meetings of the Ebola Response Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) Commissions in Beni.

Communication

• Conducted door-to-door awareness raising with preventive messaging through community volunteers reaching: 9334 people including 5,090 women.
• Distributed 500 flyers of Ebola prevention messages in churches.
• Conducted preventive messages in households of Ebola funeral services to minimize the spread and reduce further death within the household and the wider community reaching at least 700 people.

Mangina:

Water Santiation and Hygiene 

• 117 Handwashing points have been installed and are operational in the health areas of Mangina, Linzo, Mangodomu, Bingo, (In the Health Zone of Mabalako) and Makeke, Bella (for the Health Zone of Mandima). 
• This activity continues and is accompanied by monitoring the use of the washing points for desired result.
• 50 chlorination buckets were installed and are functional in the 6 health areas mentioned above of health zones of Mabalako and Mandina.
• 401.78m3 of water was treated and distributed daily in the 6 health intervention areas of Oxfam Mabalako (Mangina, Bingo, Linzo, Mangodomu) and Mandima (Makeke and Bella).
• Needs assessment was carried out in health centers and communities.

Communication

• Carried out identification of networks of associations, community volunteers, radio stations in the health zone to be used as an outlet for information dissemination as will be required.
• Continued with preparation of culturally appropriate messagesfor onward dissemination.

Thank your for your support in stopping the outbreak of Ebola in the DRC.