As the Ebola Bundibugyo epidemic continues to progress in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dr Marie-Roseline Belizaire, head of emergency response at WHO Africa, looks back on the progress and challenges of the response.
In this interview given to ONU Infoshe explains how laboratory capacities have been strengthened – “we have gone from a capacity of around 40 tests per day to almost 800” – now allowing results to be obtained within 24 to 48 hours. She also discusses the surveillance put in place after a case passes through the United Arab Emirates.
Dr. Belizaire also addresses the persistent mistrust of certain communities, where Ebola is sometimes attributed to witchcraft or poisoning. Faced with these beliefs, the WHO favors dialogue: “Let’s not stop you from going to traditional healers. But at the same time as you go there, also come to us.”
Finally, it tells the story of the first survivors of the epidemic and the poignant testimony of a recovered nurse who chose to return to care for her patients.
(Interview: Dr Marie-Roseline Belizaire, head of WHO’s emergency response in Africa; comments collected by Cristina Silveiro)
