Water shortage undermines Ebola prevention in Bunia
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Mediacongo
Illustrative image · Oyetola Togunde · Pexels · Licence PexelsA lack of drinking water and the disappearance of handwashing facilities are undermining Ebola prevention at a displaced people’s site in Bunia, Ituri. Olivier Bavi Karba, president of the Ituri Association of Displaced People, is calling for hygiene measures to be maintained, Mediacongo reports.
Lack of drinking water and the disappearance of handwashing facilities are undermining Ebola prevention at the site for displaced people at the Higher Pedagogical Institute (ISP) in Bunia, in Ituri province. Olivier Bavi Karba, president of the Ituri Association of Displaced People (ADPI), is urging residents to maintain preventive measures and follow health recommendations, according to Mediacongo.
He called for vigilance to be maintained when people travel to host neighbourhoods and within host communities, in order to limit the risk of exposing other residents. The World Health Organization (WHO) said in June that population movements, overcrowding and inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene services make it harder to detect cases and prevent transmission of the virus.
Restoring handwashing facilities and ensuring a constant supply of water and soap are presented as priorities for the ISP site. Increased community awareness is also needed to enable displaced people to apply prevention measures.
The situation comes amid the Ebola outbreak in Ituri, which had reached 10,000 cases and nearly 5,000 deaths by 28 October. On 1 November, Mediacongo had already reported that access to water was undermining prevention in Bunia.
