• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

WE FIGHT FOR EVERY CHILD

  • Latest news
  • Contact us
  • My new icon
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Chance for Childhood HomepageChance for Childhood

We fight for every child

  • About us
    • Our Team
      • Our Staff
      • Our Trustees
      • Our Patrons And Ambassadors
      • Technical Advisors
    • Our Finances
    • Our History
    • Current Jobs
  • Our Work
    • Our Impact
    • East Africa
    • West Africa
    • #OverExposed
  • Get Involved
    • Corporate Partners
    • Funding Partners & Grant Makers
    • London Marathon
    • Give In Your Will
      • Donate In Memory
  • Donate
LATEST NEWS

PRESS RELEASE: Violent attacks on Ebola Treatment Centres threaten the lives of thousands of children in the Democratic Republic of Congo

11 March 2019

Press release – For immediate release
11th March 2019

 


Violent attacks on Ebola Treatment Centres threaten the lives of thousands of children in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

To protect the most marginalised children, Chance for Childhood, an international children’s charity, is running Ebola prevention campaigns in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Since August 2018, a deadly crisis has been unfolding in the DRC. It is the largest Ebola outbreak the country has ever known and the second biggest Ebola outbreak ever recorded worldwide. According to the World Health Organisation, as of the 10th March 2019, the virus had already killed 582 people – 30% were under 18.

Just a few days ago the situation got even worse. Two Ebola treatment centres were attacked and burnt down. The remote North Kivu region has seen decades of devastating conflict and the volatile and insecure environment makes it even harder to combat the spread of this deadly disease.

As Anna-mai Andrews, CEO of Chance for Childhood, comments “We witnessed the devastation of the West African Ebola crisis five years ago, when action was not taken fast enough and tens of thousands of people died as a result. We have learned a lot from this and it is time for us to act. We need to urgently increase our support to the region to reach as many people as possible and prevent the virus from spreading. The lethal disease is now only 115 miles from the vulnerable children, families and communities we support in our existing projects. Let’s act now and ensure we do not have blood on our hands.”

Much remains to be done as explained by Christine Musaidizi, Director of our local partner Children’s Voice, “The biggest problem is the lack of knowledge. Some people don’t believe Ebola exists and they don’t realise the dangers. Patients run away from treatment centres and hide in the local community, contaminating others in the process. Others want to bury their dead themselves, as is the custom here, without any protection.”

Since August, Chance for Childhood and Children’s Voice have been running Ebola education campaign. So far they have educated 2,650 children, 800 adults and 300 public transport users on what they can do to keep safe. Members of the communities now know how to identify the symptoms and are taking simple measures to prevent its spread. They have also provided hand washing facilities to schools. Radio has been used to reach those living in rural areas. By broadcasting across North Kivu, over 120,000 people have received information on how to keep safe.

As Alessandra Podesta, Chance for Childhood’s DRC Country Representative, concludes “Ebola spreads quickly and educating vulnerable children and their families on keeping safe has never been more important. We must act quickly to make sure that a further 3,000 children can access life-saving Ebola prevention campaigns.”

Chance for Childhood is urgently raising funds to extend its prevention work to a further nine schools and their local communities. To donate to our Ebola emergency appeal, go to www.chanceforchildhood.org/ebolafund

Press contact
Beatrice Cami
, +44 (0)1483 230 250
www.chanceforchildhood.org, Twitter: @ChanceChildhood

Chance for Childhood

Chance for Childhood is an award-winning charity working in Africa to support the most vulnerable children, such as street children, disabled children, children affected by conflict and kids behind bars. Our vision is of a world where no child is forgotten!

We work with and strengthen the capacity of African visionary community leaders to implement effective, locally-relevant projects. This enables us to focus on ‘hard to reach’ children, both in terms of their complex needs (e.g. street children with learning difficulties) and location (e.g. urban violent slums or remote rural areas). Together we make ideas and impact both sustainable and scalable to protect, educate and empower even more of the world’s most disadvantaged children.

Share on TwitterShare on FacebookShare on LinkedInShare on Email
We fight for every child Donate now

Footer

Get our emails

Stay connected

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Get in touch

01483 230 250


Safeguarding

If you have concerns about a Safeguarding or Child Protection issue, or would like to speak to us about a concern please contact:

Useful links

Our promise to you

Global safeguarding policy

Terms & conditions

Privacy and cookies policy

Complaints policy

Jobs

Gift Shop

Fundraising Regulator logo

Registered address: 3 Fairfields, 26 Green Lane, Cobham, KT11 2NN.
Correspondence address: Chance for Childhood, PO Box 3030, Romford, RM7 1US.
Charity registered in England & Wales no. 1013587. © 2021 Chance for Childhood

We use cookies to improve your experience. By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device. Privacy & Cookies policy ACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT