As surveillance efforts have been scaled up in the #DRC #Ebola response, more than 900 suspected cases have been identified so far, including 101 confirmed cases.
In Ituri province, the epicentre of the outbreak, nearly 5 million people live amid ongoing conflict. Today, 1 in 4 people are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 1 in 5 are internally displaced.
The violence is forcing people to flee, including health and humanitarian workers. This is severely impeding efforts to scale up Ebola contact tracing and identify infections early enough to provide supportive care. Ongoing insecurity and fear are also fueling mistrust within communities.
@WHO and humanitarian health partners maintain a presence across Ituri, including in some of the hardest-to-reach and most insecure areas. Communities are facing not only the threat of Ebola, but also a wide range of diseases.
Our Health Cluster partners are supporting the delivery of:
* maternal, reproductive, newborn, child, and adolescent healthcare
* treatment of severe acute malnutrition with complications
* mental health services, wound care, and support for survivors of sexual violence
* medical supplies
* routine immunization
* community health services
Delivering a comprehensive package of healthcare services is essential - not only to meet urgent health needs, but also to build the trust that is critical for an effective Ebola response.