The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday, 8 September, that a shortage of qualified health workers, operational partners, and funding is constraining efforts to scale up the response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as the disease continues to spread geographically.
The outbreak has already moved beyond its initial epicentre in Bunia, affecting six provinces and prompting authorities to adopt a more decentralised strategy by establishing treatment centres closer to newly affected communities, according to Reuters.
The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the DRC has now caused 3,175 deaths and infected more than 6,000 people, making it the worst epidemic outbreak ever recorded in the country. The disease continues to spread across the country’s northeast.
WHO technical lead Luca Fontana said approximately 1,400 treatment beds have been installed across 59 centres — one of the fastest capacity expansions he has witnessed, including during the West African Ebola epidemic of 2014 to 2016.
‘Despite this extraordinary effort, we estimate that an additional 1,600 beds will be needed,’ he said.
The WHO estimates that approximately three health workers are required per Ebola patient bed. A capacity of 3,000 beds would require around 9,000 health professionals, meaning roughly 5,000 additional workers would need to be recruited and trained.
‘Every time a health worker enters the patient area, equipped with all personal protective equipment, the cost is approximately US$25. We have hundreds of health workers entering the patient area every day,’ Fontana said.
The challenge is compounded by the limited availability of international organisations with the capacity to manage Ebola treatment centres. Fontana said this situation is partly linked to the broader impact of cuts in international donor funding.
‘Where are all the organisations that were managing treatment centres during the West African outbreaks between 2014 and 2016? The reason they are not currently in the field to support this response is probably a lack of resources, and this is probably one of the constraints that could delay the scale-up plan,’ he said.
According to WHO estimates, managing a 50-bed treatment centre costs approximately US$500,000.
The WHO has called on donors to increase funding and accelerate contributions to the Ebola response plan, led by the Congolese government, which is valued at US$1.3 billion over the next six months.
The organisation estimates that only five or six major organisations have the experience and capacity to establish and operate Ebola treatment centres. These organisations risk becoming concentrated on managing existing centres unless other partners step in to take over facilities that are already functioning adequately, Fontana explained.
In some cases, the DRC Ministry of Health is assuming responsibility for centres that were opened at the start of the outbreak. Fontana warned, however, that the Ministry’s own capacity could also become overstretched. ‘That is why more actors will be needed in the field to ensure that partners with the greatest experience can return to the front line,’ he added.
The WHO has urged donors to increase funding and accelerate contributions to the Congo government-led Ebola response plan, valued at US$1.3 billion for the next six months.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/09/09/mundo/africa/ebola-oms-alerta-que-falta-de-pessoal-e-financiamento-dificulta-resposta-na-rdc/
