Concern ramps up its response in DRC as Ebola continues to spread

Up to June 29 there were 1,333 confirmed cases of the disease in DRC and 399 deaths. “It’s difficult to estimate the true scale of the outbreak, but we can confidently say the real figures are significantly higher,” Concern’s Country Director in DRC, David Jones, said. “Many people who have symptoms are not coming forward, due to a combination of distrust and fear.

“Fear is driving people to hide suspected cases. If somebody is brought to a clinic with symptoms they are taken away immediately and isolated. If they subsequently die, families are not allowed to be buried by the family in the way they would otherwise do. This is driving a swell of distrust and fear for what happens to their loved ones.” 

The fact that infected people are not coming forward for treatment, is a major challenge as it increases the risk of Ebola spreading further, he noted. 

Ituri province in eastern DRC is the epicentre of the outbreak, accounting for more than 90% of cases and 88% of deaths to date. The fatality rate among confirmed cases there is 27.6%. However, in neighbouring North Kivu province, where Concern is responding, the death rate among confirmed cases is currently 54.3%.

“The focus of the response to date has been on Ituri, with more medical support, so that symptoms are being identified at an earlier stage and those infected by have a fighting chance. In contrast, in North Kivu there are fewer medical resources and less information, and people are being diagnosed at a much later stage.”

Concern has worked in DRC since 1994 and has well established relationships with local communities. However, Concern and other organisations responding to the outbreak are being hindered by continuing conflict in the region, which is terrorising local communities.

“In the last fortnight alone, non-state actors have attacked six villages near where we are working,” Mr Jones said. “Many of the attacks occur at night. Large numbers of people have been bringing their families into larger towns each evening for safety. They sleep in the town centre, and then return home the next morning,” he said.

In addition to its existing programme work in DRC, Concern is aiming to reach over 113,000 people through Ebola-related interventions. Concern’s response is focusing on: 

• Informing communities about the disease, its symptoms, how it spreads and how to protect themselves;
• Providing communities with the means to prevent the spread of Ebola, including constructing and rehabilitating boreholes so that people have access to clean water, building emergency latrines and showers, and training community leaders on prevention, identification, and referral.
• Supporting health clinics by distributing Infection Prevention and Control kits to healthcare staff, supplying handwashing / hygiene kits, and installing handwashing stations.

“With the emergency support of Irish Aid and Concern’s Ebola Emergency Appeal, Concern is able to provide critical water, sanitation, hygiene, and protection work to support the communities based at the edges of the epicentre, to continue to inform, prevent, and protect people from the spread of this deadly disease,” Mr Jones said.

To support Concern’s Ebola Emergency Appeal click  here 

For media queries and to organise media interviews contact Eamon Timmins, Media Relations Manager, Concern Worldwide at eamon.timmins@concern.net or 00 353 87 9880524