‘Behind every case, a person’: the man leading DRC’s Ebola fight on the human cost hidden behind the numbers

Key Points:

• Prof Pierre Akilimali, overseeing the Ebola response in the DRC, emphasizes that behind rising statistics of the outbreak are real human tragedies affecting families and communities, urging focus on the human impact rather than just numbers.
• As of 24 August, the Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC has reached 5,656 confirmed cases and 2,715 deaths, with expectations that cases will continue to rise before potentially peaking in the coming months.
• The response faces significant challenges including community mistrust, attacks on healthcare workers, and logistical difficulties in remote, conflict-affected areas, but efforts to improve community engagement and trust are ongoing and crucial.
• Despite international support, local management of funds and coordination remain complex, with misconceptions among communities about funding and intentions sometimes fueling resistance to health interventions.
• The response strategy prioritizes respectful community engagement, dignified burials, infection control, and building trust through local leaders and survivors, recognizing that overcoming fear and misinformation is as important as medical treatment.