Ebola Crisis in DR Congo “eerily” Evokes COVID Pandemic Memories: Irish Catholic Agency

These measures include educating communities on how to prevent transmission and strengthening infection prevention and control in health facilities, where people face a high risk of exposure. The efforts include constructing new latrines, providing clean water for sanitation, and supplying personal protective equipment, including gloves and face masks, to health workers.

Alongside its partners, Trócaire is also supporting people who are required to quarantine by providing their families with food, hygiene kits and psychosocial support during what it describes as an “incredibly difficult period.”

The report also highlights the psychological toll on those responding to the outbreak, noting that frontline workers face the danger and fear of contracting Ebola while having to report to work each day.

Joelle Adessine, a project officer with SOFEPADI, a Congolese NGO responding to Ebola on multiple levels, said the situation was having a significant impact on the mental health of frontline workers.

With support from Trócaire, Adessine’s team is providing mental health and psychosocial support to frontline staff. She said witnessing people die every day, combined with the pressure of the outbreak, was causing psychological distress.

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“Some frontline workers have contracted Ebola, while others are in isolation. They are affected by what happens to their colleagues and they also face excessive workloads, fear of infecting loved ones, anxiety, demotivation and burn-out,” she said.

“All this causes psychological distress and creates a need for a safe space where they can talk and be heard,” Adessine said.

To address these challenges, SOFEPADI has introduced group therapy sessions where frontline staff can express their emotional distress and share their experiences.

According to Adessine, the sessions are intended to support the emotional wellbeing of frontline workers, strengthen their personal resilience and help them feel valued.