TL;DR
- USAID’s absence has slowed Ebola response.
- Former officials blame cuts for poor detection.
- Local health workers lack support and resources.
- CDC struggles to fill USAID’s role.
- Ebola cases and deaths on the rise.
In a stunning revelation, former officials are sounding the alarm about the U.S. response to the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They claim the absence of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has left a gaping hole in the country’s ability to effectively tackle the crisis. With the Trump administration’s drastic cuts to USAID last year, the consequences are now painfully clear.
Once a crucial player in global health responses, USAID was essentially gutted, losing most of its programs and staff. As a result, the U.S. response to the Ebola outbreak has been described as slow and disjointed, with former officials lamenting that lives could have been saved if USAID was still operational. “What we’ve lost is speed, which is the most important thing in an outbreak like this,” said Nicholas Enrich, a former acting assistant administrator for global health at USAID.
The outbreak, which was identified just last week, has already resulted in at least 139 suspected deaths and 600 cases, according to the World Health Organization. However, experts fear the true numbers could be much higher, as Ebola likely spread undetected for weeks before the outbreak was officially recognized.
Enrich and other experts argue that USAID’s resources could have facilitated quicker virus detection, distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE), and deployment of local health workers to screen for symptoms. Instead, these critical systems have unraveled, leaving local healthcare providers in dire straits. “Now they’re driving a taxi in Kinshasa or selling fruit somewhere,” lamented Dr. Daniel Bausch, a former medical officer at the CDC.
The International Rescue Committee, once a USAID contractor, has also reported that funding cuts have forced them to downsize their operations in Ituri, the province hardest hit by the outbreak. Heather Reoch Kerr, IRC’s country director for Congo, stated that the lack of funding has severely limited their ability to distribute essential PPE kits. “Today many facilities in affected areas are operating without basic protective supplies,” she said.
In response to the crisis, the State Department has attempted to downplay the impact of USAID’s cuts, asserting that they have mobilized $23 million in foreign assistance to support the response efforts. However, many experts argue that this funding is insufficient and that the core issue lies in the lack of coordination and expertise that USAID previously provided.
Dr. David Heymann, a former CDC medical epidemiologist, emphasized that the real problem is the U.S. not working collaboratively with international agencies. The withdrawal from the World Health Organization last year has further complicated matters, as the WHO plays a vital role in coordinating international health responses.
As the situation deteriorates, the CDC has stepped in to fill some of the gaps left by USAID, but experts warn that they are not equipped to coordinate a comprehensive response. “They’re not equipped or prepared or organized to coordinate a broad response,” Enrich stated.
Local health workers, who are essential for effective outbreak management, are now scarce. Many have found alternative employment due to the funding cuts, and those who remain are overwhelmed and under-resourced. Dr. Herbert Luswata, a healthcare worker in Uganda, voiced his concerns, stating, “We are really very scared. We are not safe at all. The response is too slow and inadequate, not anywhere close to the standards that are required in a response for an epidemic like Ebola.”
As the outbreak continues to spread, the need for a robust and coordinated response has never been more urgent. Without the support and expertise that USAID once provided, the fight against Ebola in Congo is at a critical juncture, and the lives of countless individuals hang in the balance.