WHO urges the Democratic Republic of the Congo to more than double Ebola treatment capacity | Ukraine news

Hospitals are struggling to keep pace as the outbreak stretches medical resources across the country and places frontline workers under growing pressure.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo lacks beds for patients with Ebola. The World Health Organization said that 6,686 people have been infected during the current outbreak, while 3,226 patients have died.

This is reported by dpa.

On September 8, in Geneva, the WHO called for the number of treatment beds to be more than doubled. Additional beds are needed not only in Ituri Province, which has become the epicenter of the outbreak, but also in other regions of the country.

Following a visit to the DRC, WHO logistics expert Luca Fontana reported that 59 treatment centers with a total capacity of 1,400 beds are currently operating in the country. An effective response requires:

• setting up an additional 1,600 beds;
• increasing the number of healthcare workers from 4,000 to 9,000;
• ensuring the uninterrupted operation of medical services outside specialized centers.

Training for additional medical staff is already underway. Among those being recruited are some of the approximately 1,500 people who recovered during this year’s outbreak. They are being trained to assist medical services.

The cost of treatment and protecting healthcare workers

According to Luca Fontana’s estimate, operating a 50-bed treatment center costs around $500,000. A disposable protective suit for a healthcare worker costs approximately $25 per shift.

Ebola is a life-threatening infectious disease. The virus is transmitted through physical contact and bodily fluids. The main symptoms include high fever, diarrhea, and bleeding.

The shortage of beds and medical staff is complicating the response to the outbreak, which is why the WHO is insisting on the urgent expansion of treatment infrastructure in the DRC.