Congo Ebola Response Hits Breaking Point

The response is facing serious obstacles due to a lack of trained personnel, partners and funding. The disease has spread from its epicenter in Bunia to six provinces.

The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak has already claimed 3,175 lives in the country and infected more than 6,000 people, making it the worst Ebola outbreak in the country’s history.

World Health Organization (WHO) technical officer Luca Fontana said nearly 1,400 beds had been set up across 59 centers, but another 1,600 were needed. Reaching the planned capacity of 3,000 beds will require the recruitment and training of approximately 5,000 additional healthcare workers. The high cost of protective equipment and running treatment centers is adding to the challenge. Operating a 50-bed facility costs approximately $500,000.

Another problem is the limited number of international organizations capable of operating treatment centers, partly because of global funding cuts. According to the WHO, only five or six large organizations have the necessary experience and capacity. Some facilities are being taken over by the Congolese Ministry of Health, but its capacity is also gradually being exhausted, Fontana said.

The WHO has therefore called on international donors to urgently increase funding for the Congolese government’s six-month response plan, valued at $1.3bn.

(Reuters, max)