Women bear the brunt of DR Congo's Ebola outbreak

An Al Jazeera field report from Bunia and surrounding districts shows that the Ebola outbreak in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo is bearing down disproportionately on women. Household caregiving falls largely to women, raising their exposure to symptomatic relatives, and their role in traditional funeral rituals — including washing and preparation of the deceased — is amplifying transmission risk.

Provisional data shared by the Ituri provincial health directorate suggest women account for 58 percent of confirmed cases, while 71 percent of frontline positions such as nursing and hygiene work are held by women. UNICEF Congo representative Sylvie Tchibindat said 'access to personal protective equipment for women remains limited, and many continue to work to provide for their households.'

The World Bank and UN Women estimate the outbreak has cut the average income of women smallholders by about 23 percent, with restricted market access also slowing agricultural flows. Sub-Saharan African health-fund administrators are calling for additional funding and mobile clinics to follow up female contacts. The donor conference planned for September in Geneva is expected to include a dedicated chapter on women health workers.