The city of Butembo in the Democratic Republic of Congo's North Kivu province has inaugurated a new Ebola treatment center (CTE) in Matanda, bringing the total number of centers in the city to four. The new center, built by International Medical Corps (IMC), has a capacity of 30 beds, including 10 for suspected cases and 20 for confirmed patients. The center also features a six-bed nursery for children.
The construction of the new center is in response to a long-expressed need to help cut the transmission chain of the disease in the Grand Nord region of the province. According to Dr. Gaston Lubambo, head of the North Kivu provincial health division, the center will help alleviate the high occupancy rate of existing centers, which was at 98% just 48 hours prior to the inauguration.
The new center in Matanda is the second to be inaugurated in two days, following another center that was handed over to Congolese authorities by Uganda on Sunday. The Ugandan-donated center, with a capacity for 80 patients, is located in the ITAV concession. These new centers bring the total number of Ebola treatment centers in Butembo to four, with two in the Katwa health zone and two in the Butembo health zone.
The Ebola outbreak in North Kivu has spread to 16 health zones, and the new centers are expected to help prevent the disease from spreading to high-risk areas. Health authorities have called on the population to protect these new facilities, which will enhance the city's capacity to admit and treat Ebola patients.
The inauguration of these new centers is part of the ongoing efforts to combat the Ebola outbreak in the DRC. According to health authorities, the situation remains critical, with new cases and deaths reported in recent days. The response efforts have been hampered by challenges, including a shortage of personnel and resources.
The DRC's Ebola outbreak has been ongoing for several weeks, with the first case reported in August. Since then, the disease has spread rapidly, with multiple cases and deaths reported in several provinces. The World Health Organization (WHO) and other international partners have been supporting the response efforts, but the situation remains challenging.
The Congolese government and health authorities have appealed for continued support and resources to combat the outbreak. The new Ebola treatment centers in Butembo are a significant boost to the response efforts, but more needs to be done to bring the outbreak under control. The situation will continue to be monitored closely by health authorities and international partners.
Key points
- The city of Butembo now has four Ebola treatment centers, with two in the Katwa health zone and two in the Butembo health zone.
- The new centers have a combined capacity of 110 beds, including 30 beds at the Matanda center and 80 beds at the center donated by Uganda.
- The Ebola outbreak in North Kivu has spread to 16 health zones, and the new centers are expected to help prevent the disease from spreading to high-risk areas.
