Churches key responders in battle against latest Ebola outbreak

Ebola Treatment Facility, Guinea (Photo: UN)

Anglican churches in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are playing a vital role, alongside healthcare agencies, in the fight against the world’s second largest outbreak of Ebola in the north east of the country.

The Archbishop of Congo, Masimango Katanda, said the Church was attempting to raise awareness of the reality of the virus and tackling misinformation. He said:“The main role of the Church at this time is to raise awareness… Ebola concerns everyone. We will encourage all church members to be informed and follow the advice so that they can take care of themselves. We will work with pastors, youth, school heads, Mothers’ Union and others – so that all can be involved together to eradicate this disease.” He also said churches in the affected areas have set up different points for hand-washing and temperature checks, and are also working alongside the humanitarian agencies involved in the crisis.

The outbreak in central Africa, which has been running for almost a year, has become the second most deadly killing more than 1,600 people in the north-east of the country.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern,” after the first confirmed case in Goma, a DRC city of nearly two million people on the country’s eastern border with Rwanda. This case has increased the risk of the virus spreading internationally.

The crisis in the DRC has been made more difficult due to an ongoing conflict in the region. [ACNS, Rachel Farmer]