Médecins Sans Frontières intensifies action against the Ebola epidemic in eastern DR Congo
Teams from Médecins Sans Frontières (Msf) are 'working day and night on a large-scale emergency response to the Ebola epidemic in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)', according to a statement from the humanitarian organisation, which explains that the intervention is taking place 'in close collaboration with the Congolese health authorities and other partners, including the World Health Organisation (WHO)'.
'The challenge today,' explainsMsf's project leader in Goma, Valeria Greppi, 'is to be able to treat Ebola patients, to be able to trace their contacts, and at the same time to be able to guarantee essential services and access to treatment for other diseases such as malaria, cholera and HIV.
Msf 'is deploying medical and logistical personnel with extensive experience in treating viral haemorrhagic fevers', the humanitarian organisation explains, adding that 'in the province of Ituri alone, the epicentre of the current outbreak, around 50 international workers will soon arrive in the affected areas to work together with some 480 locally hired professionals'.
In parallel, essential medical supplies and equipment are sent to the affected provinces from Kinshasa and Msf's logistics centre in Kampala, Uganda.
Interventions in North Kivu are also reported.
