Christian health organisations are among the few entities forming a last line of defence in Eastern DR Congo, where a rare and deadly strain of Ebola has caused global concern. On May 17, the World Health Organisation declared the Ebola outbreak “a public health emergency of international concern” following 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths.
The outbreak, first identified earlier this month in Ituri Province in northeastern Congo, involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a less common variant for which there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment, according to the WHO.
Health officials said the outbreak has already spread across several health zones in Ituri and crossed into Uganda, raising fears of wider regional transmission. Church-run hospitals and mission clinics remain among the few functioning healthcare institutions in parts of eastern Congo where conflict has damaged state infrastructure and limited access to medical care.
The BBC reported that an American missionary physician working in the region, Dr. Peter Stafford, tested positive for the virus on May 19 while serving at Nyankunde Hospital near Bunia in eastern Congo. He was evacuated to Germany for treatment. Stafford is affiliated with Serge, a Presbyterian mission organization involved in medical and humanitarian work.Stay informed with The Christian Daily NewsletterSign up
Serge confirmed the infection in a public statement and said several Americans who may have been exposed were being evacuated from the region. But Serge says the story extends far beyond one missionary doctor.
“Our medical teams labor in some of the most demanding settings in the world, serving vulnerable communities who have limited access to healthcare,” said Joel Hylton, Serge’s Senior Director of Mission. “We are profoundly grateful for their dedication to the people of the DRC, and we deeply lament the hardship they are enduring under this current threat. Our concern extends equally to our Congolese colleagues and friends in the region who face these same risks.”
Christian advocacy organizations, including International Christian Concern, say Christian communities in parts of eastern Congo have faced repeated attacks from militants linked to the Islamic State group.
Nyankunde Hospital, where Stafford served, has its own history linked to the violence in eastern Congo. The hospital was heavily affected during ethnic fighting in Ituri in the early 2000s, when militias attacked communities and forced many aid workers and medical staff to flee.
The worsening Ebola crisis is now adding another layer of instability to communities already struggling with displacement, insecurity and weak healthcare systems.
