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Bunia, Democratic Republic of the Congo The warning from the World Health Organization (WHO) is alarming: the recent spread of disease Ebola The virus spreading in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) may be one of the worst in the world, the agency has repeatedly said.
In the worst recorded outbreak, the haemorrhagic virus disease killed more than 11,000 people in West Africa between 2014 and 2016. In the second largest outbreak, from 2018 to 2020, 2,287 deaths were recorded in eastern DRC.
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Health officials have warned that the outbreak could become more widespread as the region grapples with frequent outbreaks Bundibugyo strainwho do not have approved drugs or vaccines. Second, the disease had been spreading for several weeks without the government’s recognition before it was officially announced on May 15. Researchers say that the disease has been greatly weakened by the lack of medical care around the world in the past year.
The virus is also spreading in the east of DRC, a region that has been plagued by long-running conflicts, and where distrust of government officials is growing, making it difficult to track suspected or confirmed cases. It originates from Ituri district, near the border of Uganda.
As of July 21, more than 2,500 cases and 1,000 deaths have been recorded, according to the WHO. Uganda also reported 20 cases, with two deaths. As of July 16, authorities said the last patient had recovered.
By comparison, in the 2018 outbreak in the DRC, it took more than 10 months for the number of cases to reach 2,000.
At the forefront of the fight against the spread are health workers who face the risk of infection, lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), and dangerous attacks from suspicious people who do not believe in the virus, and therefore do not go to the hospital.
Many doctors also complain about unpaid wages. Last week, many people at Rwampara General Hospital downed their equipment in a strike. The hospital has a large Ebola treatment center and is located near the town of Bunia in Ituri. In May, parts of the capital were set on fire by angry mobs who also chased away health workers fleeing in vehicles.
More than 100 health workers have fallen ill, and about 35 have died.
Two health workers spoke to Al Jazeera about the unique challenges they face. Here are their stories:
Fear of Ebola and angry mobs
My name is Paluku Audrey. I am 29 years old, and I work as a social worker at a local hospital in Rwampara. My job is to go to different places and tell people about the danger of Ebola. It means that I have to meet people every day even though most of them do not believe that this disease exists. Sometimes, people hate the body.
I have been involved since May, when the expansion was announced. My friends and I were quickly gathered for this situation. I told myself that I must come to work quickly – not to make money, but first and foremost to save people’s lives.
I wake up every morning at 6 o’clock. I am planning to leave Kindia community in Bunia where I live to go to work. My home is more than 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from Rwampara health center. Sometimes I take the bus, but sometimes I have to walk the whole way, even though it’s a long journey. I don’t have enough transport as we haven’t been paid since May. I don’t even know his actual salary.
The biggest problem we face is the skepticism of people who don’t understand the dangers of Ebola. Some people don’t even believe it exists. There are also many conspiracy theories surrounding this disease. Some say it is a punishment from parents. Some say it is a disease created to reduce the population of the world.
Every day, my friends and I walk the streets and barbaric areas of Bunia, where people look at us in disbelief and think we are lying about Ebola. We do this from morning to night.
We tell people about hygiene measures to avoid Ebola, and what it looks like when someone gets sick. We tell them the need to go to the hospital as soon as they feel unwell.
Some people agree, but many refuse to receive these messages. Sometimes they throw stones at us. A crowd is unforgiving when angry.
My biggest fear is catching Ebola one day, or being attacked by a mob.
I was almost attacked once. That day I was out working as usual when I was suddenly caught and imprisoned by other youths. They accused me of exaggerating the disease to make money. Fortunately, I had friends in the area who came to my rescue and stopped them from running over me.
I try to protect myself from Ebola by carrying a bottle of disinfectant and a mask everywhere I go. Sometimes I wear gloves. But when it comes to protecting myself from cruel people, I try to show compassion. If there is an emergency, I run.
I come from a poor family, and I am the only one who works. I often struggle to pay my bills. I think about my family members who depend on me. He tells me that he fears for my life. I personally think that life is full of risks and opportunities, but sometimes, I wonder how they will manage in my absence.
The day I will never forget is when I helped carry the first bodies of people suspected to have died of Ebola, at the beginning of the epidemic. The people of that area were very angry. They tried to force us to open the box to make sure there was a dead person inside. My friends and I refused, but they threatened to beat us. It was difficult.
I find it sad that we have been working for weeks without even buying a liter of water. The donors of the countries that give money to fight the epidemic should try to pressure the government to make sure that we are paid.
Despite the resistance, my efforts to raise awareness are working. I know because many people have promised me that they will do as I advise, and give my messages to others. It makes me proud that my work saves lives. I hope my country will appreciate me one day.
‘The plague took his life’
My name is Ghislain Maneba. I am 35 years old, and I am an epidemiologist at Rwampara Hospital.
My job is to go into people’s homes and help transport people who are suspected of having Ebola to the treatment center for testing. Those who are sick, we help to treat them voluntarily.
My family is worried, but they have been helping me. As the breadwinner of my little family, they depend on me to survive.
Ebola is not like malaria or typhoid fever. It hits very hard, and that scares me. Some doctors are sick. I often think that tomorrow could be me, even if I don’t want to.
When I wake up every morning and every evening before I go to sleep, I think about the oath I swore to save lives. I feel very tired about the long day that lies ahead of me: searching for people, going to the village to deal with the strange rise of crime there. When I see the crime statistics, I wonder if we should fear the future. “
But, like any other worker, I get ready in the morning and take a motorcycle taxi to get to work on time. We have been given protective equipment, such as shoes, gloves, etc., although it is not enough for us.
We are also disinfected every time we come into contact with a confirmed or suspected person.
The biggest problem right now is the lack of salaries and bonuses. Sometimes we struggle to find the money to pay for transportation to and from work. It’s unfortunate that we haven’t been paid yet.
People have fixed ideas about the epidemic. People always say that Ebola is a myth. And many people say this because they heard others say this.
But we are not giving up. We continue with our work.
What I remember most from the outbreak is going to the funeral of a doctor colleague who died of Ebola. He was bold and ambitious. Unfortunately, the plague took his life. When I think about this, my heart breaks. But it also encourages me to respect him by working hard.
What people don’t know about my job is that it is very difficult and requires dedication. I have wasted my time, the time that should belong to my loved ones.
However, the most important thing for me is that I am writing a page of history with this answer. My experience is being put to good use in the fight against Ebola, and that is something I am proud of.
I would be happy if the world takes this disease seriously and if more resources are used to fight it. If we are paid according to the size of our work, things will be fine with me. Also, if work trucks and food are sent to us as advertised in the newspapers, that would be good too.
