Amidst the Ebola virus outbreak, ADRA works to ensure malnourished children are fed

ADRA has been working in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since 1984. From that time, the team has responded to the Ebola virus disease that struck the country ten times. The most recent outbreak, which began since August 2018, has reportedly been the longest-lasting and second-biggest outbreak to strike the country.

ADRA has been providing support through clean water, sanitation and hygiene best practices. The most vulnerable of the population who face dire needs during the epidemic are children and women, whom ADRA has been committed to serving.

“Our top priority is to work with community leaders to help us build trust and engage with the communities. We want to bridge any gaps in care so we can offer humanitarian assistance,” says Mario Oliveira, emergency response director for ADRA.

Presently, ADRA has developed a child feeding program with help from UNICEF to work in healthcare zones of Katwa, Butembo, Beni, Mabalako, and Oicha in North Kivu province.

“The main objective of this emergency response is to reduce the risk of malnutrition among children age 26 months and younger, pregnant and lactating women affected by the Ebola virus disease,” says Oliveira.

Through their efforts, ADRA to date has reached more than 170,000 beneficiaries through prevention, WASH, and community mobilization activities. More work Oliveira believes is needed to be done to contain the virus.

ADRA is networking and coordinating with partners on the ground to seek out additional opportunities to help fight the spread of the disease.

Original source: ADRA
Published on 25 July 2019