WHO‑led IPC Efforts Strengthen Ebola Response in DRC’s Ituri Province

Since the outbreak was declared in mid‑May 2026, WHO consultant Nadège Esangowale Yangala has worked on the frontlines in Mongbwalu, Ituri Province. She helped 13 health facilities reach infection‑prevention and control (IPC) standards and trained about 430 personnel, including doctors, nurses, traditional healers and waste‑management teams. Within 48 hours of a triage review, the hospital moved its triage desk to the entrance, installed foot‑operated hand‑washing stations and created a temporary isolation area, allowing a suspected case to be isolated immediately. Yangala’s team also distributed IPC supplies, improved water and sanitation access, and mentored staff on PPE use, hand hygiene and waste decontamination. Challenges remain, such as intermittent supplies of soap, chlorine and protective gear, and staff fatigue, but the response has shifted hand‑washing and equipment disinfection from optional to routine practice, boosting confidence among health workers and patients alike.