Online Reporter
HEALTH workers at Rwampara Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo are facing a double challenge as they battle one of the latest Ebola outbreaks — treating patients while at the same time trying to stop the deadly virus from spreading.
For many on the frontline, the situation is becoming increasingly difficult. The disease is spreading fast, resources are limited, and fear within communities is making the response even harder.
Less than two weeks after the first case was identified, the hospital has already become a critical centre in the fight against the outbreak.
One recent case showed just how serious the situation has become.
Squeezed onto the back of a motorcycle, clearly exhausted and showing symptoms of illness, a young woman was rushed to the hospital. She had travelled between her sister and the driver, a common way for patients to reach medical facilities in the region, where ambulances are scarce.
At Rwampara Hospital, health workers who are already overstretched quickly stepped in to assess her condition.
The town, located in the conflict-affected east of the country, is now one of the key hotspots in the latest outbreak of Ebola — a highly contagious disease that can cause severe bleeding and organ failure.
Since the outbreak was officially declared on May 15, the situation has worsened rapidly. According to official figures, more than 900 suspected cases have been reported along with over 220 suspected deaths. The World Health Organization has already declared the situation an international emergency.
Health experts believe the true scale of the outbreak may be even bigger. There are concerns that the virus had been spreading quietly before it was detected, meaning many cases could still be unreported.
At the hospital, the young woman’s condition raised immediate alarm.
A health worker quickly checked her temperature, which was recorded at 39.7°C. Even before she got off the motorcycle, visible signs pointed to a possible Ebola infection. She was bleeding from the nose — one of the key symptoms of the disease, which causes a form of haemorrhagic fever.
“She gave birth a month ago and two weeks after giving birth she began to fall ill,” her sister said, without giving her name.
The situation highlights the challenges faced by families in the region. In Ituri province, where the outbreak is centred, access to healthcare is limited and many communities have been without proper state services for years.
The area has long been affected by armed conflict, with groups operating in rural areas and frequently carrying out attacks. As a result, many families rely on basic remedies when illness strikes.
“We thought it was malaria. Then she was given tablets and medicinal plants but there was no change,” her sister said.
By the time the woman was taken to hospital, her condition had worsened significantly.
The motorcycle driver who transported her wore a surgical mask, but had no gloves or protective clothing. This raised further concern, as Ebola spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids.
Hospital worker Dieudonne Sezabo immediately sprayed both the driver and the motorcycle with chlorine, in an effort to reduce the risk of contamination.
With no proper transport systems in place, such situations are common.
With no ambulances available, “people make do with motorbikes”, said Sezabo.
The young woman, unable to walk on her own, was helped into the hospital by her sister. Although she wore gloves, her arms were not covered, again highlighting the difficulties of maintaining full protection in such settings.
Inside the hospital, medical staff dressed in full protective suits quickly escorted the patient to an isolation ward.
However, even basic response efforts have faced setbacks.
The rollout of emergency measures in Ituri has been slow, partly due to logistical challenges. Medical supplies are brought into the region mainly through Bunia’s international airport, located about 12 kilometres from Rwampara.
But the situation became more complicated when the Congolese government announced a ban on all flights to Bunia, except those with special authorisation.
This has further delayed the delivery of essential equipment needed to manage the outbreak.
As a result, hospital staff have been forced to improvise. Patients with other illnesses have been moved to make space for Ebola cases, while temporary facilities are being set up.
In the early days of the response, two isolation tents established by the NGO Alima were destroyed by an angry crowd. The group demanded the release of the body of a person who had died from Ebola.
The situation quickly escalated, forcing soldiers to intervene by firing warning shots to disperse the crowd. –Africa News
