A batch of surgical gowns has been donated to the staff of the Ebola Treatment Center at the Evangelical Medical Center (CME) Hospital in Bunia, Ituri Province. The donation was made by the Basandja Coalition at a time when the region is affected by the Ebola virus.

By Akilimali Chomachoma

In a calm atmosphere, enclosed walkways marked with red mats attached to wooden poles lead to several bags filled with green surgical gowns. The RK Foundation is providing support to healthcare workers who are on the front line of treating Ebola patients.

“Knowing that you, the medical staff, are on the front line and are the first to be exposed, we decided to focus our efforts on supporting healthcare workers. That is why we are donating these surgical gowns today through the RK Foundation, with the support of the Basandja Coalition,” said Stella Ramazani, Coordinator of the Basandja Coalition.

Nicole Landu Mawadi is a physician at CME Hospital. Following the declaration of the Ebola outbreak, she became the supervisor of the Ebola Treatment Center. According to her, this donation will greatly assist her teams in carrying out their work.

“We sincerely thank the Basandja Association and the Foundation for providing us today with surgical gowns. This support strengthens and encourages our staff, who are constantly in contact with patients and require adequate protective equipment to care for those hospitalized. We receive new staff members every day, which increases our need for surgical gowns. We will always need equipment to help us fight this epidemic,” she said.

The Basandja Coalition is an alliance of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo dedicated to responsible environmental management, climate justice, and community-led humanitarian assistance. Officially established as a coalition in 2022, the organization operates in several regions, including the tropical forests of the Congo Basin, peatlands, and mining communities.

Since the Ebola outbreak was declared in the DRC, the coalition has been involved with a specific focus on strengthening community participation in the response to the epidemic. Stella Ramazani explained:

“We have Woman Power, which mainly works in communication and Community Engagement and Risk Communication (CERC). They conduct awareness campaigns and radio programs within communities. We also have FADEM, a women’s organization working here that carries out awareness-raising activities. In addition, SOFEPADI operates a health center here. They are also taking action within the community with funding from the Basandja Coalition.”

Dr. Job Kabagambe, Chief Medical Officer at CME Hospital, emphasized the continuing need for medical supplies:

“We continue to receive a large number of patients, and we are making every effort to increase our treatment capacity. This always requires the availability of medical supplies. Although we manage to obtain some equipment, the need remains constant.”