Caring for mothers during an Ebola outbreak
“Despite the severity of Ebola, I have a duty as a midwife to support women and girls and to save lives. That's what motivates us every day.”
Since May 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been battling the third-largest Ebola outbreak on record – with no licenced vaccine yet available. It's spreading across Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, and into Uganda, with over 1,000 suspected cases reported.
This is unfolding in one of the world's toughest humanitarian settings, with ongoing conflict, repeated displacement and a fragile health system already stretched thin.
The message is clear: Women and the girls – your health centres remain open for you
Fear and misinformation are keeping pregnant women away from care – but history shows what follows: a hidden secondary wave of preventable maternal deaths.
Across 29 health zones, UNFPA, the United Nations Populations Fund, is working with local and international partners to keep maternal and newborn services running, protect frontline health workers and counter the misinformation driving women away.
“We strictly follow protective measures for ourselves and our patients. We educate pregnant women about the warning signs... so they can protect their health and that of their babies”
