Uganda, Ebola

DR Congo (MNN) – A rapidly growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has claimed more than 1,500 lives, with the disease spreading faster than response efforts can keep up. Over 3,400 cases have been recorded so far.

The current strain has no approved vaccine, making access to medical care even more urgent.

Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is helping responders reach remote communities by air.

“Right now, some of the greater challenges are simply the access to the right kind of care,” says Stephen Hale, MAF’s program director in eastern DRC. “Specific Ebola treatment is not available in all of the remote areas where the disease is spreading.”

MAF delivers a load of medical supplies to help combat an Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 2019. Photo by Dave Petersen. (Photo and caption courtesy of MAF)

MAF doesn’t transport Ebola patients, but its aircraft deliver medical supplies and fly healthcare workers into isolated areas while following strict safety protocols.

Hale says Ebola’s impact extends far beyond those infected.

“Almost all forms of medical treatment suffer greatly because hospitals become inundated with Ebola patients. We continue to support those as well by bringing in even medicines or medical supplies that aren’t necessarily Ebola related, but they are meeting the tangential effects, if you will, of the outbreak.”

Even amid the crisis, MAF’s Congolese staff remain at work in Bunia while missionary staff operate flights from neighboring Uganda.

“They are continuing to be salt and light right in the middle of the outbreak,” Hale says.

Every flight carries more than cargo.

“We use those airplanes to [be] meeting people’s core needs or their physical needs, but we do that in the name of Christ. We do that in the name of Jesus, so that they can experience His love,” says Hale.

“That is a very much an outworking of the Gospel in our own lives, but we hope also a very visible demonstration of the Gospel to those that receive it.”

Please pray for the outbreak to end quickly, for protection and encouragement for Congolese believers serving on the front lines, and for the Church to faithfully share Christ’s hope amid the crisis.

You can also support MAF’s critical ministry work at their website here.

 

Header photo courtesy of CDC Global via Flickr: https://flic.kr/p/fJ5FVU