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With children accounting for 30% of confirmed and probable Ebola cases, UNICEF is stepping up its response to curb the spread of the disease.
KINSHASA / NEW YORK, January 30, 2019 – Since the last Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was declared six months ago, on August 1, 2018, more than 740 people, including 30% of Children, have been infected. with the disease, of which more than 460 died and 258 survived Ebola. Together with the government and its partners, UNICEF is stepping up its interventions to help victims, control the spread of the disease and, ultimately, end the deadly epidemic.
This is the 10th Ebola outbreak in the DRC and the worst in the country. It is also the second largest Ebola outbreak in the world after the one recorded in West Africa in 2014-2016. Insecurity, frequent displacement of people in the affected areas and resistance from some communities continue to undermine the response to this latest epidemic.
"Although we have been able to largely control the disease in Mangina, Beni and Komanda, the virus continues to spread in the Butembo region, largely due to insecurity and population movements," said the spokesman. Dr. Gianfranco Rotigliano, representative of UNICEF in DRC. "We are stepping up our action and deploying additional staff in the Butembo and Katwa Health Zones, where 65% of new Ebola cases have occurred in the past three weeks."
Since the beginning of the epidemic, UNICEF and its partners have deployed more than 650 people together with governments, civil society, churches and non-governmental organizations to help infected individuals and families. educate the best. hygiene and behavior practices to prevent the spread of the Ebola virus.
UNICEF's response to the Abola focuses on community engagement, water and sanitation provision, securing schools against the Ebola virus, and supporting children and families infected and affected by HIV / AIDS. Ebola virus. UNICEF is working to control and prevent the spread of the disease and end the epidemic; reduce the number of deaths related to the Ebola virus in infected persons; and to provide protection, alleviate suffering and help affected children and families.
Those infected, as well as affected families and their children, including Ebola orphans and unaccompanied children, continue to receive psychosocial support to help them cope with the consequences of Ebola. UNICEF also provides a protective environment for schoolchildren and nutrition support, including for children and adults in Ebola treatment centers.
"Our teams in Mangina, Beni, Oicha, Komanda, Butembo, and Lubero are working tirelessly on this multi-pronged approach to quickly end the Ebola outbreak and help affected children and families," he said. underlined Dr. Rotigliano.
To date, UNICEF and its partners have:
- More than 10 million people in affected areas delivered prevention messages in collaboration with community leaders and through the media;
- Provides drinking water to more than 1.3 million people in public places, health facilities and schools;
- 8,146 teachers trained in Ebola prevention measures;
- Achieved 157,133 children in 888 schools with prevention messages;
- Assistance provided to 830 families directly affected by the Ebola virus;
- Identified 686 orphans from Ebola and provided them with appropriate care.
Media Contacts
Yves Willemot
UNICEF DRC
Tel: +243 81 88 46 746
Email: [email protected]
Diane Yameogo
UNICEF Regional Office for West and Central Africa
Tel: + (221) 77 332 4326
Email: [email protected]
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