Working on multiple plagues in Congo

There is no quick solution to the Ebola crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo. But building trust in the community is essential to stopping the disease. Here in Australia you can learn a lot about COVID-19 compliance.

Since the outbreak began, volunteers such as the 25-year-old carpenter Machoz have been knocking on the doors of the most endangered families.

Machoz is one of the brave local Red Cross volunteers working to raise awareness. He survived Ebola and he is now on a mission to stop the virus from its footprint.

Recruiting young volunteers like Machoz is at the heart of the Red Cross’ response.

Hundreds of local community volunteers are working with us. They explain to their neighbors how to prevent, detect, and deal with Ebola. Most importantly, they also listen to the concerns and fears they yearn to address widespread rumors. It’s a matter of life and death.

Accurate communication is also important to fight COVID-19 in Australia and around the world. We are fighting not only viruses but also false information.

Community leaders fight the epidemic by building trust and understanding. It is also an important tool for dealing with COVID-19.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, only one in three people who captured Ebola survives. For COVID-19, the survival rate is much higher, but the disease is much more infectious.

In Australia, the health system is functioning so far fewer deaths than in many countries, so optimism can be addressed. However, mortality rates are already much higher in many resource-poor countries.

I have hope. Five years ago in West Africa, the worst-ever Ebola fever has killed more than 11,000 people. This time in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the world acted faster.

COVID-19 also has an incredible international response and collaborative efforts to identify potential vaccines and therapies, unlike those the world has never seen before. It was.

Whether it’s Ebola or COVID-19, early detection, isolation, and prevention are important in controlling disease.

Each suspected case of Ebola has been the subject of containment, treatment and community prevention activities. However, despite all the difficult work, stopping the outbreak was very difficult.

In the northeastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, vast lush jungles surround a dramatic lava-studded field. Mountain gorillas live in a World Heritage-listed national park next to the majestic Lake Kivu and the vibrant Niragongo Volcano.

The most resilient people on earth live here. They have endured severe outbreaks of measles and cholera recently.

The world’s largest measles outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has killed more than 6,600 people in the last 15 months. Lack of hospitals, clinics, and medical staff help these diseases thrive.

And now the Democratic Republic of Congo is also facing the outbreak of COVID-19. The first case was reported on 10 March, imported from France.

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By March 24, President Felix Zisekedi imposed an emergency and closed the border.

Currently, there are 471 confirmed cases and 30 deaths.

While the world’s focus is on COVID-19, more resources are needed to prevent Ebola and other diseases.

Hundreds of nurses, doctors and volunteers around the world are dying to help others. In responding to Ebola, significant progress has been made in overcoming major challenges.

We hope we can win this battle together.

The global response to fight COVID-19 is as powerful as the weakest link.

We work on coronaviruses, but remember the millions of people living in poverty who are trying to overcome not only this pandemic but other preventable diseases.

Australian aid worker Katriamans recently completed 15 months as the League of Nations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Red Crescent Societies, Ebola Response and Health Coordinator.