DRC / EBOLA UPDATE

The international community and the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are stepping up its efforts to help contain the Ebola outbreak in the city of Mbandaka and the remote region of Bikoro. UNICEF

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:03:10
• Production Date: 23 May 2018
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND - UNICEF
• Subject Topical: EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE; VACCINATION CAMPAIGN
• Geographic Subject: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
• MAMS Id: 2159513
• Parent Id: 2159513
• Alternate Title: unifeed180523a

Description

STORY: DRC / EBOLA UPDATE
TRT: 3:10
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT UNICEF ON SCREEN
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / LINGALA /NATS

DATELINE: 22 MAY 2018, MBANDAKA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

Shotlist

1. Focus shift, Congo river
2. Wide shot, children wash their hands outside
3. Med shot, the UNICEF supported Wangata Hospital with the Ebola treatment cen-tre
4. Med shot, an individual enters Wangata Hospital
5. Various shots, Ebola prevention poster
6. Various shots, nurse taking temperature reading inside hospital
7. Wide shot, Dr. Manzibe washes his hands outside the hospital
8. Close up, Dr. Manzibe washes his hands outside the hospital
9. Wide shot, Dr. Manzibe Hilaire walks through the hospital
10. SOUNDBITE (French) Dr. Manzibe Hilaire, Director, Wangata Hospital:
“We have to keep protecting ourselves. For example, behind me, we see people washing their hands. Every person coming in and out has to wash their hands as a measure of protection. Every person who goes into the treatment centre must have maximum protection and protective clothing. And also, as we know vaccina-tion is protection and vaccinations are appreciated.”
11. Wide shot, the hospital’s pharmacy
12. Med shot, boxes with medical supplies
13. Various shots, children queue to wash hands
14. SOUNDBITE (Lingala) Nenga Myongo, 10 years old:
“We have to do this and wave and not touch people. For saying hello, we should not shake hands and we should not stand close to people. We also have to wash our hands before we enter the classroom and before eating. If mum wants to cook, she has to wash her hands and if she forgets, I have to remind her. Same for my father and my brother.”
15. Close up, a child washes her hands

Storyline

The international community and the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are stepping up its efforts to help contain the Ebola outbreak as the vaccination campaign entered a second day in the city of Mbandaka and the remote region of Bikoro, where the outbreak was first detected.

Health workers at the Wangata Hospital in Mbandaka, where the Ebola treatment centre is established have already been vaccinated, according to its director, Dr. Manzibe Hilaire. They are also taking all available measures to stop the spread of the deadly virus.

SOUNDBITE (French) Dr. Manzibe Hilaire, Director, Wangata Hospital:
“We have to keep protecting ourselves. For example, behind me, we see people washing their hands. Every person coming in and out has to wash their hands as a measure of protection. Every person who goes into the treatment centre must have maximum protec-tion and protective clothing. And also, as we know vaccination is protection and vaccina-tions are appreciated.”

Health officials have launched a public information campaign to educate the population how best to protect themselves from getting infected. For schoolchildren, washing hands with solution is mandatory before entering the class.

SOUNDBITE (Lingala) Nenga Myongo, 10 years old:
“We have to do this and wave and not touch people. For saying hello, we should not shake hands and we should not stand close to people. We also have to wash our hands before we enter the classroom and before eating. If mum wants to cook, she has to wash her hands and if she forgets, I have to remind her. Same for my father and my brother.”

According to the World Health Organization, more than 7,500 doses of the rVSV-ZEBOV Ebola vaccine have been deployed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to conduct vaccination in the northwestern Equator Province where 46 suspected, probable and confirmed Ebola cases and 26 deaths have been reported (as of May 18). Most of the cases are in Bikoro, a remote rural town, while four confirmed cases are in Mbandaka, the provincial capital with a population of over 1 million people.
The vaccines are donated by Merck, while Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is contributing US$1 million towards operational costs. The Wellcome Trust and DFID have also pledge funds to support research activities.

The Ministry of Health with WHO, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), UNICEF and other key partners are implementing a ring vaccination with the yet to be licensed rVSV-ZEBOV Ebola vaccine, whereby the contacts of confirmed cases and the contacts of contacts are offered vaccination. Frontline healthcare workers and other persons with potential expo-sure to EVD – including but not limited to laboratory workers, surveillance teams and people responsible for safe and dignified burials – will also receive the vaccine.