Prevent the spread of Ebola in the DRC

The worsening situation in the DRC is now Oxfam’s greatest priority. The ongoing conflicts have left over 13million people in urgent need for humanitarian assistance. This has been exacerbated by the re-emergence of Ebola, after it was originally thought to have cleared in the Equateur Province, it has now reoccurred in North Kivu.

After stabilising briefly, the number of Ebola cases have started to go up again in the DRC, with 33 new cases and 24 deaths reported in October taking the total number of cases to 214 and the number of people who've died to 139. The World Health Organisation are convening an emergency meeting to decide whether the outbreak is now a public health emergency of international concern.

The security situation is also becoming more volatile. Several violent attacks led to the entire humanitarian response being suspended for nearly a week at the end of September and daily events such as protests, roadblocks and gunfire have had a massive impact. Every time the response gets suspended could mean potential cases missed, contacts not followed up and people not vaccinated, undermining all the hard work to keep this outbreak under control.

To date Oxfam have reached 106,762 people, including:

• Door-to-door sensitization on how to best protect against Ebola for 8,145 households.
• Ongoing chlorination of 54 water points.
• Distribution of hygiene kits and hand washing stations in 23 schools.

Oxfam Response Areas

 Beni and Mangina:

• Door-to-door sensitization on the Ebola message by CHWs for 8,145 households
• Ebola briefings for 58 CHWs, 42 Youth Associations’ leaders and 260 teachers
• Community meeting with 50 participants
• Ongoing chlorination at 54 water points
• Completion of 2 sources and nearing completion of 4 more
• Follow up and water supply on various hand washing stations
• Distribution of hygiene kits and hand washing stations in 23 schools
• Finished all 10 latrines in Mangina Health Centre
• Wash evaluation in various Health Centres and schools
• Works on water adduction in Mangodumo: installation of plumbing connections on the tank tower, digging trenches of 1,2 km totaling 5 km

Goma:

• Monitoring of EVD activities in targeted schools including the use of the hand washing facilities and child to child activities organised by trained teachers
• Water supply was done to13 hand washing facilities through water trucking: 45 000 liters of chlorinated water (0.05%) were supplied to 13 handwashing. From the beginning of the response, 298 750 liters of chlorinated water have been supplied
• Distributed IEC materials to targeted schools: 52 banners in plastic tarpaulin with prevention messages, 52 boites a images and 112 T-shirts
• Briefed 20 CHW on EVD mode of transmission and prevention in Goma town
• Trained 402 teachers, inspectors of the ministry of education in Goma town the Ebola prevention
• During the reporting period people from different category of the population in Goma town were mobilized / sensitized on Ebola prevention measures by Oxfam hygiene volunteers team at the 13 handwashing points located at the main entrée points of the town and public places (markets,) it was observed that around 11% of populations refused to wash their hand while in or out the targeted areas

Ituri Region:

• Conducted Water supply to10 hand washing facilities by water trucking was done:  18,000 liters of chlorinated water (0.05%) were supplied to 10 handwashing facilities
• Distributed IEC materials into targeted areas of the town in collaboration with the “provincial commission of Communication: 28 banners with prevention messages were posted in different areas of the town (markets, airport, other publics places) and 50 T- shirts were distributed
• Visits with the provincial governor and ministers of Oxfam activities at 3 main entrees points of Bunia town
• Did planning & preparation of mass campaign on EVD in Bunia town

Thank you for supporting Oxfam's response in the Democratic Republic of Congo, helping protect communities from Ebola.