“We are afraid”: nurses battle Ebola without PPE
As the Ebola outbreak continues to spread across eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, healthcare workers are confronting a dual challenge: caring for infected patients while taking extraordinary measures to avoid becoming victims of the disease themselves.
In treatment centres across affected regions, medical teams are working under intense pressure as confirmed infections and suspected cases continue to rise. With no approved vaccine or targeted treatment currently available for the strain driving the outbreak, healthcare workers are focusing on supportive care aimed at helping patients survive the illness and recover.
Patients who arrive with symptoms linked to Ebola are immediately separated from the general population and placed under observation. Medical teams then conduct laboratory tests to determine whether the virus is present, with additional testing carried out when necessary before a final diagnosis is made.
Those confirmed to have Ebola receive treatment designed to manage complications caused by the disease. Doctors and nurses provide fluids to prevent severe dehydration, administer oxygen when breathing difficulties arise and closely monitor patients as they battle symptoms including fever, weakness, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Containing the virus remains a critical part of the response. Because Ebola spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids, healthcare workers follow strict safety procedures whenever they interact with patients.
Specialised treatment units known as “Cubes” have become an important tool in the outbreak response. The transparent isolation structures allow patients to communicate with relatives and receive medical attention while reducing direct contact between healthcare workers and infected individuals.
Medical personnel can examine and assist patients through built-in protective gloves attached to the units, limiting exposure while maintaining care standards. Aid organisations supporting the response say additional Cubes are being transported to outbreak zones to help manage the growing caseload.
Despite these innovations, frontline workers continue to face shortages of essential supplies. International health organisations have raised concerns about limited stocks of protective equipment and testing materials, warning that shortages could hamper efforts to contain the outbreak.
The risks facing healthcare workers remain significant. Several medical personnel have already contracted the virus while responding to the crisis, highlighting the dangers associated with treating highly infectious diseases.
To reduce those risks, hospitals and treatment centres have adopted rigorous safety protocols. Staff work in teams, monitor one another for possible mistakes and follow carefully designed procedures whenever entering or leaving high-risk areas.
The physical demands of the work add another layer of difficulty. Protective suits are vital for safety but can become extremely uncomfortable in the region’s hot and humid climate, forcing workers to limit the amount of time they spend inside isolation areas.
Beyond the medical challenges, aid agencies say insecurity in parts of eastern Congo continues to complicate the response. Ongoing conflict, attacks on health facilities and difficulties accessing some communities have made disease surveillance and patient tracking more difficult.
Health officials have also appealed for stronger cooperation from local communities after incidents in which treatment facilities and response teams faced hostility linked to fears and misinformation surrounding the outbreak.
Even with these obstacles, healthcare workers continue to provide care around the clock, determined to contain the disease and save lives. Recent recoveries among infected patients, including several medical professionals, have offered encouragement to teams working on the front lines of one of the country’s most challenging public health emergencies.
As authorities intensify efforts to curb transmission, frontline health workers remain central to the fight against Ebola, balancing compassion, caution and resilience in an environment where every patient interaction carries potential risk.
Source: BBC
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