On 1st August 2018, an outbreak of Ebola virus was confirmed in Mabalako Health Zone in Mangina village situated in Beni Territory, North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The official declaration of the epidemic by the National Ministry of Health initiated a response from WHO and other organizations from the health sector to attempt to stop the further spread of the disease and treat the affected.
Unfortunately, these attempts have not been totally successful as Ebola continues to spread to several locations within the Beni territory region and Ituri Province according to WHO report of 30 October 2018, 244 persons have contracted Ebola and 144 deaths have occurred.
ACT DRC national /local Forum members that have jointly applied for a Rapid Response Fund in response to Ebola emergency are BOAD, Eglise Evangelique Lutherienne au Congo (EELC) and Church of Christ in Congo (CCC).
Other ACT DRC members namely Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Norwegian Church Aid, Christian AID (CA), BOAD, Salvation Army, Eglise Evangelique Lutherienne du Congo (EELC) and Church of Christ in Congo (CCC) will jointly apply for an appeal in response to Ebola epidemic.
DRC ACT Forum members will plan to ensure Ebola epidemic affected persons’ basic needs are met and proper sensitization and other appropriate health measures aiming at putting the epidemic under control are in place.
The various proposals plan to provide support related to sensitization of Ebola to the whole community, community leaders will be trained and hygiene practices will be promoted by setting up hand washing kits in schools; churches and market places.
Psycho social support to affected families (especially those who have lost close relatives) will also be provided.
