Ituri Province DRC Court: Ebola Outbreak Exacerbates Healthcare Crisis

• Ebola outbreak leads to 42% decline in essential healthcare services in primary hotspots.
• Routine childhood vaccinations fall by more than half across hotspot areas.
• Over 23,000 fewer routine child vaccine doses administered in May and June compared to April.
• UNICEF trains and deploys over 13,000 frontline community actors to promote Ebola prevention and early detection.
• 505,000 household visits carried out to build trust and refer suspected cases for care.

The data suggests that fear of infection, combined with disruptions to services, is deterring lots of children and their families from seeking care.

The ongoing Ebola outbreak in Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has led to a significant decline in essential healthcare services, exacerbating existing challenges in the region. According to recent health data, the use of essential health services dropped by 42% in primary outbreak hotspots between April and June 2026. This decline is attributed to fear of infection and service disruptions, which have deterred families from seeking care for their children and women.

The impact on childhood immunizations has been particularly concerning, with routine vaccinations falling by more than half across hotspot areas. In Mongbwalu, the outbreak epicentre, first-dose measles vaccination declined by 69%. Province-wide, follow-up vaccines also saw significant declines: third-dose pentavalent vaccine by 22% and second measles dose by 18%.

Health facilities have been severely affected, with over 23,000 fewer routine child vaccine doses administered in May and June compared to April. Maternal health facilities were also impacted, with facility-assisted deliveries falling 13% across the province, and by 38%, 30%, and 70% in Bunia, Rwampara, and Nizi respectively.

The disruption of essential healthcare services due to the Ebola outbreak raises concerns about liability risks for healthcare providers. In areas where access to healthcare has been severely impacted, there is a potential for increased risk of liability related to delayed or foregone medical treatment. This is particularly relevant in regions like Ituri Province, where the outbreak has led to a significant decline in essential health services.

Healthcare providers must be aware of their obligations to provide timely and effective care, even in challenging circumstances. Failure to do so may result in liability claims, which could have severe consequences for healthcare facilities and professionals.

The situation highlights the need for healthcare providers to develop contingency plans to mitigate the impact of service disruptions on patient care. This includes ensuring that essential medical supplies are available, staff are trained to handle emergency situations, and patients are informed about the risks and benefits of treatment options.

To counteract rising transmission and restore community confidence in essential health services, UNICEF and partners have implemented a comprehensive response plan. This includes training and deploying over 13,000 frontline community actors and key influencers to reach more than 2.4 million people with guidance on Ebola prevention and early detection.

Teams have also carried out over 505,000 household visits to build trust, dispel misinformation, and refer suspected cases for care. UNICEF has supplied infection prevention and control materials to eight Ebola treatment centres and equipped 45 health facilities in Ituri with essential supplies and equipment.

The response plan underscores the importance of community engagement and participation in addressing public health crises like the Ebola outbreak.

Lawyers and compliance officers should be aware of the potential for increased risk of liability related to delayed or foregone medical treatment due to service disruptions caused by the Ebola outbreak, particularly in areas where access to essential healthcare has been severely impacted.

Source: Original reporting via UNICEF