A nurse in the Democratic Republic of Congo tells Tearfund how he’s trying to win the battle against Ebola in hospitals, in communities and in people’s minds.
Isaac Bataga works at a health centre in Bunia, Ituri, at the centre of the outbreak. Every day he sees patients, neighbours or members of his community die from Ebola. He’s working with one of Tearfund’s church partners to urgently spread the message that this danger is very real - and to persuade his scared but sceptical community to follow essential steps to save lives.
When he’s not at the health centre, you’ll find Isaac teaching his church congregation and community to wash their hands with soap and water, to avoid contact and report suspected symptoms and cases early.
“Some people still refuse to believe that Ebola can kill,” says Isaac Bataga. “When it first arrived, the population did not really understand what the virus was. This misunderstanding has led to resistance and fear within the community. Even today, some residents are still afraid to seek medical care.
“We ask people abroad to pray for us because Ebola is deeply affecting our community. We are experiencing daily deaths, and some families are losing several members. We install handwashing stations at both the entrance and the exit of the church, and that is how we move forward and improve…we are now seeing gradual behavioural change”.
His pastor, Schadrack Nyakulinda, 48, shows the community how it’s done at the church handwashing station. “The church raises awareness about ways to protect oneself against Ebola”, says Pastor Schadrack, “especially hand washing. When the faithful arrive at the church, they wash their hands. We also fight the disease through prayer. And our request is that you pray for us, so that God gives us peace.”
The latest figures from DRC National Institute of Public Health- which recently changed the way cases are reported - show there have been 363 confirmed cases of Ebola and 62 deaths. But the true figure is expected to be much higher, and cases are spreading to new districts.
“Handwashing might sound simple,” says Poppy Anguandia, Tearfund’s DRC Country Director, “but when you have only a few precious litres of safe water a day, or you have to choose between a bar of soap or food for your family, it can be a life or death decision.
“That’s why Tearfund’s church partners - like Isaac and Pastor Shadrack - have such a critical role to play as they are so trusted in their community, so when they lead by example, people follow.
“We’re already seeing the disease spread into other regions so this is a race against time and disinformation. We are starting to see cases of recovery, where symptoms have been caught early enough, so we can see this vital work is saving lives.”
Tearfund is working with local partners and faith leaders to share urgent prevention and safety guidelines, distributing hygiene kits with soap for handwashing, building toilets and managing waste, to prevent the spread of the disease.
Engaging faith leaders is a critical part of risk communication and tackling misinformation. Tearfund is partnering with more than 500 faith leaders in different districts in Ituri, enabling thousands of people to hear these life-saving messages.
To donate to Tearfund's Ebola Crisis Appeal, go to www.tearfund.org/ebolacrisis
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