Women are the first caregivers in this Ebola outbreak and the most at risk
Health workers say women are most exposed as they care for sick relatives, with 344 cases and 60 deaths confirmed in Congo.
- Congolese authorities confirmed 344 Ebola cases and 60 deaths on Wednesday, with neighboring Uganda reporting 15 confirmed cases and one death. Women, who typically serve as primary caregivers, face significantly higher infection risks.
- Ituri province, located over 1,000 kilometers from Kinshasa, struggles with poor infrastructure and underequipped health facilities. Attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces and Islamic State have further hindered the outbreak response.
- Anny Ekyambo, a 32-year-old in Bunia, remains too afraid to seek prenatal checkups despite being five months pregnant. Kasiwa told The Associated Press, "Many people are dying there, even nurses," explaining why she cannot take her mother to hospitals.
- Dr. Alan Gonzalez of Doctors Without Borders stated "nobody knows the true scale and severity of this outbreak," while Sofia Calltorp of UN Women warned the same patterns affecting women in previous outbreaks will emerge again.
- Julienne Lusenge of Inclusive Peace reported clinics receive only hand sanitizer and minimal masks, while the Bundibugyo strain lacks approved treatments or vaccines. Home caregivers often remain unaware of infection risks, amplifying vulnerability.
38 Articles
38 Articles
'I cannot abandon her': Women first caregivers in Ebola outbreak and most at risk
Women in eastern Congo are often the first caregivers when family members fall ill. That puts them at high risk during this Ebola outbreak of a type that has no approved treatment or vaccine.
The Columbian
Hindustan TimesWomen are the first caregivers in Ebola outbreak and the most at risk
BUNIA, Congo — Every day for the past week, Aline Kasiwa has fed her sick mother, helped her drink and washed her clothes, all while fearing she could catch the Ebola virus as eastern Congo is plagued by one of the fastest-spreading outbreaks of the disease on record. Read more...
Associated Press News
Women are the first caregivers in this Ebola outbreak and the most at risk
Women in eastern Congo are often the first caregivers when family members fall ill. That puts them at high risk during this Ebola outbreak of a type that has no approved treatment or vaccine.
Every day during the last week, Aline Kasiwa has fed her sick mother, helped her drink and washed her clothes, all while fearing to spread the Ebola virus, as eastern Congo is plunged into one of the fastest-growing Ebola outbreaks recorded.
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