The United Kingdom has increased its support for the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), bringing its total commitment to £78.7 million, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Africa CDC announced the development in a statement on its website, following a meeting in Addis Ababa between its Director-General, Jean Kaseya, and UK Minister for International Development, Kirsty McNeill.
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The discussions focused on the Ebola response, regional coordination and the need for sustained support to affected countries.
According to Ms McNeill, the government had earlier allocated £26.9 million for the immediate response in the DRC and Uganda, as well as for regional coordination.
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Africa CDC noted that “the additional UK funding will support the response in the DRC and Uganda, as well as wider regional coordination and preparedness.”
The increased support comes as the Ebola outbreak continues to spread across the DRC.
As of 6 September, the country had recorded 6,686 confirmed Ebola cases and 3,226 deaths, according to the latest WHO Africa situation report.
The outbreak is now affecting six provinces and 60 health zones.
How outbreak began
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a species of Ebola virus different from the Zaire species responsible for several previous Ebola outbreaks.
The first alerts were received in early May after an unexplained illness with high mortality was reported in Mongbwalu Health Zone in Ituri Province.
Laboratory testing subsequently confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease, and DRC officially declared its 17th Ebola outbreak on 15 May.
Uganda subsequently confirmed imported cases linked to the outbreak, prompting WHO to declare the situation a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 16 May.
What UK funding will support
Africa CDC said the additional UK support will strengthen several areas of the response, including surveillance, laboratory capacity, infection prevention and control, case management, community engagement and cross-border preparedness.
The announcement also comes as African health authorities and international partners seek to strengthen coordination across borders and improve the speed with which suspected cases can be identified, tested and treated.
Africa CDC said it would continue working with member states and partners to strengthen surveillance, laboratory systems, patient care, infection prevention and control, community engagement and preparedness along borders.
Speaking on the latest funding, Mr Kaseya welcomed the UK’s support for the African-led response.
“This support comes at an important time. We are working closely with the DRC, neighbouring countries and partners to stop transmission, protect communities and support health workers on the front line,” he said.
He said strong international partnerships aligned with the priorities of affected countries and African institutions is essential to bringing the outbreak under control.
READ ALSO: Uganda declares Ebola outbreak over after 42 days without a new case
Shortage of health workers
WHO has warned that about 5,000 additional health workers are needed for Ebola treatment centres in the DRC as the outbreak expands.
Nearly 4,000 health workers are already working in treatment centres, but more are needed as treatment capacity increases.
WHO has also reported that nearly 1,400 treatment beds are available across 59 treatment centres, while another 1,600 beds are needed to meet the projected demand.
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