In DRC, misinformation and lack of supplies are making the Ebola outbreak harder to contain

Supplies in urgent need

CARE has been working in the DRC for over 20 years, and has coordinated with the Ministry of Health since the start of the outbreak. Response efforts are covering 22 health zones where CARE is training local health workers, helping track cases, sharing reliable health information, and distributing hygiene kits containing soap, hand sanitizer, and protective equipment like gloves and gowns.

Bocoum says recent funding cuts, however, are limiting the work organizations like CARE can provide. In many of these communities, outreach is done “door-to-door, family-to-family, using culturally appropriate communication to reach people.” But staffing shortages mean there aren’t enough response teams to reach every area and every family, making early detection, case reporting, and distributing accurate information even harder.

Cuts in funding also mean critical items that could help stop the spread of the disease, like gloves and masks, are now in short supply. Lab equipment and testing supplies are also running low.

CARE has had a long-term presence in this area and supported previous Ebola responses in the DRC, including during the 2018 outbreak in North Kivu. Bocoum believes that CARE’s commitment to the community has created trust.

“People believe in the prevention messages we are passing and feel safe acting on them. Because of that trust, we address the rumors and fake news using culturally appropriate communication through channels such as community dialogue, radio, mobile outreach, and local leaders to get verified information into remote and conflict-affected areas.”

As of publication, CARE’s response is covering around 220,000 people across Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces. Adequate funding will help the response reach 1 million people through the distribution of hygiene kits to 20,000 households, expanded communication efforts, community engagement actions to improve awareness of early warning signs, and stronger support for local health facilities.

Reaching communities

Women and girls continue to be a main focus of CARE’s response because they often face a higher risk of exposure to Ebola than men. They account for 57 to 62 percent of laboratory-confirmed and probable Ebola cases in previous DRC outbreaks.

“Women and girls are often family caregivers, responsible for washing [the] bodies [of family members who have died] and caring for the sick, and are the first to absorb breakdowns in hygiene, food, and health systems,” Bocoum said. In many communities, women are in charge of preparing bodies for burials. They will wash, clean, and dress the deceased, which increases their chances of becoming infected. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable due to disruptions in maternal care and increased health complications.

At the time of publication, CARE has deployed almost 400 community health workers, half of whom are women. This helps improve communication because women are frequently seen as the “most trusted messengers” in their communities.

To continue educating families about the dangers of Ebola and to help stop the spread, more essential workers, protective equipment, and lab supplies are needed. As of now, they remain in dangerously short supply.