Authorities in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo are actively searching for a six-year-old girl diagnosed with Ebola and her mother after armed individuals forcibly removed them from a hospital where they were receiving treatment.
The incident occurred at Wanamahika Hospital in Butembo, where local health official Dr. Lubambo Maboko Gaston reported that “very angry” men armed with knives took the child.
It remains uncertain if the assailants had any prior connection to the girl, but there is widespread fear and distrust surrounding Ebola treatment facilities amid the ongoing outbreak.
In a statement to Reuters, Gaston urged both the child and her mother to return to a healthcare facility, warning that their absence could lead to deteriorating health conditions and pose a risk of transmission to their family members.
Ebola treatment centers have faced multiple attacks during this outbreak, which has resulted in nearly 200 fatalities and over 840 confirmed cases.
Recently, police in Mongbwalu fired warning shots as agitated crowds attempted to reclaim the remains of loved ones who had died at a medical facility.
Just days earlier, residents set fire to isolation tents in Rwampara, located 85 kilometers southeast of Mongbwalu, after being denied access to the body of a man suspected of dying from Ebola.
The remains of an Ebola victim carry a high risk of contagion and can facilitate further spread of the virus if not handled properly during burial preparations.
Local politician Luc Malembe Malembe highlighted a significant issue with public awareness, stating, “People are not adequately informed or educated about what is occurring. In certain remote areas, some believe Ebola is a fabrication by outsiders, it simply does not exist.”
He added that there is a perception among some that non-governmental organizations and hospitals are exploiting the situation for profit, which he described as tragic.
The current outbreak is attributed to a rare strain of Ebola known as Bundibugyo.
As there is no vaccine available for this specific variant, the World Health Organization (WHO) has indicated that it may take several months before a vaccine can be developed.
Infection cases are primarily concentrated in the Ituri, South Kivu, and North Kivu provinces, where the six-year-old girl was abducted from the hospital on Monday.
Ituri continues to be the epicenter of transmission.
The WHO has expressed concerns that ongoing conflict in eastern DR Congo is complicating efforts to manage the Ebola outbreak.
The M23 rebel group currently controls significant territories within both North and South Kivu.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong