About 18 patients infected with Ebola disease escaped into the communities after angry residents burned down hospitals in Congo.
The new outbreak of Ebola disease in Congo has caused tension globally and even in the communities of Congo, such that angry residents burn down hospitals in Congo. The fear of this makes patients run for their lives so as not to get burned for having Ebola disease.
What Has Been Happening in the Last Week
There has been a high increase in the rate of Ebola spread in Congo. On Thursday, May 22, the Rwampara treatment center in Congo was burned down by the youth after a family went to claim the body of one of their relatives, and they were denied access to the body.
This is because the death was as a result of Ebola disease, so the person must be buried according to the specifications and regulations of the healthcare to avoid the spread of Ebola disease.
Ebola disease spread through contact with body fluids of infected person, so this disease could spread during the burial or while bathing and dressing up the dead person infected with Ebola disease.
That is why a person who died as a result of Ebola disease must follow due protocols by health expertise to be buried so as to curb the spread of Ebola disease.
However, this family insisted as they were denied access to give a befitting burial for their family member and this led to the chaos of angry residents burn down hospitals in Congo.
On Friday May 23, angry residents of Mongbwalu attacked and set fire to a tent set up by doctors. This tent was constructed without borders to treat suspected and confirmed cases of Ebola disease.
The tension during the course of this attack made about 18 persons to escaped from the treatment center into the community and the healthcare could not account where they fled to.
On Sunday May 25, two young angry residents burn down hospitals in Congo, particularly in Mongbwalu general hospital. They burned down this hospital as they requested two bodies of their relatives.
This is the third event of burning down health facilities as a result of the Ebola outbreak in Congo. In a week, three events were recorded and have put the nation in a terrifying health crisis; doctors and nurses no longer feel safe in the hospital.
Why This Is So Dangerous
This causes more tension to the health sector in Congo, as health experts no longer feel safe in doing their work. According to the feedback from Dr. Richard Lokudi’s who is director of Mongbwalu hospital, he said “We strongly condemn this act, as it caused panic among the staff and also resulted in the escape of 18 suspected cases into the community.”
Health authorities now conduct burials under a very strict security check. The most dangerous part of this is that it’s going to increase the rate of Ebola spread within the communities. The escape of the 18 persons into the communities will increase the high chance of Ebola spread.
Why Angry Residents Burn Down Hospitals in Congo
The burning down of hospitals was initiated as a result of denied access to the dead bodies of family members who died as a result of Ebola disease. This is not the first time a burning down of health facilities has happened in Congo. It has happened in previous outbreaks of Ebola in Congo.
They have a strong and rigid cultural belief around death and burials, so the residents get angry at the death protocols of health centers against the spread of Ebola disease.
Final Thoughts as Ebola Patients are escaping into communities after angry residents burn down hospitals in Congo
This has caused an alarming increase in the rate of Ebola cases in Congo. Over 900 cases of Ebola have been discovered in Congo with high chances of an increase in conflicting regions with the issues of burning down health facilities.
The WHO has warned that if this crisis continue, there will be high chances of the outbreak to escalate. This is a very sensitive time for government and authorities to balance culture and tradition to keep to the protocols guiding the burial of an Ebola patient.
