WHO says staff shortage, funding challenges hamper Congo Ebola response

A shortage of trained staff, operational partners, and funding is impeding the expansion of the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a World Health Organisation (WHO) official. The outbreak has extended beyond its initial epicentre, affecting six provinces and prompting authorities to adopt a more decentralized approach by establishing treatment centers closer to newly affected communities.

Congo's Ebola outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo species, has resulted in 3,175 deaths and over 6,000 infections, making it the country's most severe epidemic. WHO technical officer Luca Fontana revealed that nearly 1,400 treatment beds have been set up across 59 centers, one of the quickest scale-ups he has encountered, including during the 2014 to 2016 West Africa Ebola epidemic.

However, an additional 1,600 beds are estimated to be necessary. Given that three health workers are required for each Ebola patient bed, around 9,000 staff would be needed for the targeted capacity of 3,000 beds. This would demand the recruitment and training of approximately 5,000 extra health workers. Each healthcare worker donning full protective gear while attending to patients incurs roughly $25 in costs, with hundreds of staff members performing this task daily.

The scarcity of international organizations capable of running Ebola treatment centers is exacerbated by the impact of broader global donor funding cuts, Fontana explained. He noted that only five or six major organizations possess the expertise and capacity to establish and operate such centers, and they may become overwhelmed managing existing centers unless other partners assume responsibility for already functioning facilities.

The cost to operate a 50-bed treatment center is approximately $500,000. WHO estimates that only a limited number of major organizations have the necessary expertise and resources to set up and manage Ebola treatment centers. Fontana emphasized the need for more field actors to ensure that the most experienced partners can resume leading the response.

The WHO has called upon donors to increase funding and expedite their contributions to support Congo's government-led Ebola response plan of $1.3 billion over the next six months.