‘Behind every case, a person’: the man leading DRC’s Ebola fight on the human cost hidden behind the numbers
Prof Pierre Akilimali, who heads DR Congo’s response to an outbreak that has so far killed more than 2,700 people, says tackling the disease requires trust and respect
TL;DR
- Prof Pierre Akilimali emphasizes the human cost of the Ebola outbreak, stating that behind every case is a person and a family.
- As of August 24, the Bundibugyo variant had 5,656 confirmed cases and 2,715 deaths.
- Akilimali notes that community mistrust, stemming from past negative experiences with institutions, is a significant hurdle.
- The response requires international solidarity and support, as the DRC government faces substantial costs.
- Building trust through open communication, respecting communities, and ensuring dignified burials are crucial for the response's success.
- Effective community engagement is considered as vital as vaccine deployment and other technical pillars.
- Challenges include the outbreak's scale and speed, difficult geography, coordination with numerous partners, and maintaining trust amid misinformation.