DRC Crisis: Special Nurseries Offer Shelter and Support for Orphaned Children during Ebola Outbreak
As the Democratic Republic of the Congo grapples with a worsening Ebola outbreak, authorities have established special nurseries to provide shelter, daily care, and psychological support to children whose parents are receiving treatment for the virus.
Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have opened these facilities alongside Ebola treatment centres to ensure that children are safely cared for while infected parents receive treatment, particularly when no other family member is available.
Beyond meeting children’s basic needs, the nurseries provide specialised mental health services to help young people cope with the trauma of separation and illness.
The outbreak has prompted an intensified national and international response as health workers seek to contain its spread. According to the Congolese government, the country had recorded 1,406 confirmed Ebola cases, including 438 deaths, as of June 30.
Humanitarian agencies are urging authorities to ensure that children’s needs remain central to the response by combining infection prevention with childcare, psychosocial support, and access to essential services.
