As Ebola continues to put pressure on health services in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the response is also addressing risks faced by women and girls. In Bunia, Ituri Province, awareness activities are being conducted in markets to inform women about their rights, prevent abuse and exploitation, and provide information on reporting mechanisms
Community outreach is being used to provide women with information on their rights and ways to report abuse and exploitation during the Ebola response.
Beyond treating Ebola patients
The response to an Ebola outbreak does not stop at detecting cases, tracing contacts or treating patients. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, health authorities and partners are also addressing vulnerabilities that can emerge around the health crisis, particularly those affecting women and girls.
The World Health Organization reported on activities in Bunia, Ituri, aimed at protecting women from sexual abuse and exploitation during the Ebola response. Among the women reached are traders in local markets, including those at the Cinquantenaire Market.
The initiative brings information directly to women in places where they work and interact daily. They are informed about their rights, the risks of abuse and exploitation, and the channels available to report violence or other protection concerns.
Bringing protection into the field
For women living through an epidemic, the health emergency can affect much more than access to medical care. Restrictions, disruption of economic activities,
displacement and increased dependence on services can create circumstances in which vulnerable people may face additional protection risks.
This is why protection measures are increasingly being incorporated into the broader humanitarian and health response.
In Bunia, outreach workers such as Esperance Ayikoro engage women directly, creating opportunities for them to receive information and raise concerns. Rather than treating protection as a separate issue, the approach places it within the community response to Ebola.
The objective is not only to tell people how to protect themselves from the virus, but also to ensure that those affected by the response know where to seek help when their rights or safety are at risk.
Trust also matters
Community trust remains essential to containing Ebola. The outbreak has required health workers and community actors to work closely with populations on surveillance, prevention, treatment and other public health measures.
The WHO and Africa CDC have stressed the importance of community-led action and the involvement of women and young people in building confidence in the response.
This makes protection an important part of the wider public health effort. Communities are more likely to engage with health interventions when they feel heard, respected and protected.
For women, having access to clear information about their rights and safe channels for reporting abuse can therefore strengthen their participation in the response.
A broader definition of an effective response
The Ebola response in the DRC is taking place against the backdrop of a severe outbreak. As of September 23, the WHO reported 7,890 confirmed cases and 3,799 deaths, with cases recorded across 63 health zones in seven provinces. Ituri remains the epicenter of the outbreak
Behind these figures are communities whose needs extend beyond medical treatment.
Protecting women and girls from abuse and exploitation is therefore becoming part of what an effective Ebola response means. Alongside laboratories, treatment centers and surveillance teams, community outreach can help ensure that the
response protects both physical health and human dignity.
In Bunia, speaking to women in markets is one example of how the fight against Ebola is being extended beyond the virus itself, towards the protection of the people living through the crisis.
