1 of 3 | A coordinator with U-Reporters, an UNICEF program to engage and inform local communities, wears a protective gown as he takes part in a campaign to raise awareness against Ebola in Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on Friday. Photo by Jeanne Munyerenkana/EPA
May 29 (UPI) -- The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is spreading by the day and a shortfall in aid funding combined with misinformation and cultural issues in the affected communities is putting healthcare responders at a disadvantage.
Dr. Amadou Bocoum, country director for the nonprofit organization CARE, told UPI the health system in the DRC is struggling to combat the outbreak of Ebola due to lacking resources. The withdrawal of funding from the United States last year is at least one of the key contributing factors.
"Since the reduction of funding by donors, especially the U.S. government and other donors also followed, the health system is not really functioning well," Bocoum said. "When the outbreak of Ebola came, the main issues are a lack of personal protective equipment. The main issue is about funding, lacking kits for laboratories to test and the hygienic kits, masks and soap."
