Bulape – A newly-established Ebola treatment centre in Bulape health zone has significantly bolstered clinical care and the overall response by the health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to end an outbreak of the virus declared in Kasai Province on 4 September 2025.
Operational since 9 October, the 32-bed treatment facility was designed to ensure high standards of infection prevention and control for the safety of both patients and health care workers.
World Health Organization (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and partners supported the establishment of the treatment centre to help the Ministry of Health to not only strengthen treatment capacity, but to also reinforce community trust in the fight against Ebola virus disease.
Elie, the only confirmed patient still receiving care at the treatment centre, is one of the 14 people transferred from a previous treatment site. At the new facility, Elie says he has experienced improvement in conditions of care.
“Here, I have seen the nurses who come to treat me, unlike at the old treatment centre where we couldn’t even see the caregivers. And since I have a wife and children, it was very hard not being able to see them. Now it’s different. I’m happy I can see them, even if it’s from a distance," he says. “Back there, at the old site, there were five of us in one room. Here, each person has their own room with a toilet. It’s so much better — you feel dignified and well cared for.”
“Here, I have seen the nurses who come to treat me, unlike at the old treatment centre where we couldn’t even see the caregivers. And since I have a wife and children, it was very hard not being able to see them. Now it’s different. I’m happy I can see them, even if it’s from a distance," he says. “Back there, at the old site, there were five of us in one room. Here, each person has their own room with a toilet. It’s so much better — you feel dignified and well cared for.”
The Bulape treatment centre, built on a 4500-square-meter site about 200 meters from the Bulape General Hospital is constructed to ensure quality care for patients and safety for frontline workers.
Construction began on 19 September and was completed in just 10 days. The centre comprises 14 tents, each equipped with private rooms to ensure patients’ privacy and dignity.
They feature patient monitoring facilities that enable closer care without putting medical staff at risk.
Construction began on 19 September and was completed in just 10 days. The centre comprises 14 tents, each equipped with private rooms to ensure patients’ privacy and dignity.
They feature patient monitoring facilities that enable closer care without putting medical staff at risk.
The new treatment centre is the outcome of two different projects: INITIATE2, led by WHO and WFP and involving more than 50 partners worldwide; and the HEF (Health Emergency Facilities), a collaboration between WHO, UNICEF and MSF. The innovative model combines modularity, safety and rapid deployment to strengthen preparedness for health emergencies.
“This new Ebola treatment centre incorporates major innovations: the IDTM (Infectious Disease Treatment Module) for more humane and higher-level care, and a ‘patient liner’, which provides individual rooms while ensuring constant visibility for patients in the low-risk area,” explains Michele Di Marco, coordinator of the WHO Téchne, OSL.
“Words matter. We no longer talk of ‘cases’, but about patients. We no longer talk about ‘isolation centres’, but about treatment centres. The aim is to enhance the safety, effectiveness and dignity of care during health emergencies.”
“This new Ebola treatment centre incorporates major innovations: the IDTM (Infectious Disease Treatment Module) for more humane and higher-level care, and a ‘patient liner’, which provides individual rooms while ensuring constant visibility for patients in the low-risk area,” explains Michele Di Marco, coordinator of the WHO Téchne, OSL.
“Words matter. We no longer talk of ‘cases’, but about patients. We no longer talk about ‘isolation centres’, but about treatment centres. The aim is to enhance the safety, effectiveness and dignity of care during health emergencies.”
To improve patient care and ensure continuity of services, the centre offers more suitable technical conditions, facilitates separation of patient flow paths and ensures better delivery of infection prevention and control measures.
It is also equipped with an innovative water, sanitation, and hygiene system, featuring a permanent storage capacity of over 20 000 litres of water, continuously supplied from a protected source located 1.2 kilometres’ from the site.
It is also equipped with an innovative water, sanitation, and hygiene system, featuring a permanent storage capacity of over 20 000 litres of water, continuously supplied from a protected source located 1.2 kilometres’ from the site.
To make the centre operational, 50 health professionals—including 32 nurses and 18 doctors—as well as 75 hygienists were trained in patient care. All staff working at the treatment centre have been vaccinated against Ebola.
“Work has become much smoother. The separation between the ‘green zone’ and the ‘red zone’ is clearly marked, which allows us to perform certain tasks—such as taking vital signs or interacting with patients—from the green zone without always having to enter the red zone in full personal protective equipment," says Dr Mamie Banza, the physician in charge of medical care. “This setup improves our comfort, reduces exposure and enables us to provide better care to patients.”
The ongoing outbreak is the third in which Dr Banza is involved. “With each outbreak, I learn and grow. I enjoy evolving with the world, because Ebola response has also evolved and I feel a deep sense of pride in saving lives.”
“Work has become much smoother. The separation between the ‘green zone’ and the ‘red zone’ is clearly marked, which allows us to perform certain tasks—such as taking vital signs or interacting with patients—from the green zone without always having to enter the red zone in full personal protective equipment," says Dr Mamie Banza, the physician in charge of medical care. “This setup improves our comfort, reduces exposure and enables us to provide better care to patients.”
The ongoing outbreak is the third in which Dr Banza is involved. “With each outbreak, I learn and grow. I enjoy evolving with the world, because Ebola response has also evolved and I feel a deep sense of pride in saving lives.”
“This centre was initially designed as a temporary structure, but it will remain operational through the consolidation phase. In the long term, the Minister of Health has committed to supporting the community, with the possibility of transforming it into a permanent facility dedicated to outbreak response,” says Dr Richard Kitenge, the Ministry of Health’s Incident Manager for the Ebola response.
“The goal is to preserve the existing infrastructure and gradually shift it into a reinforced structure capable of serving the region sustainably.”
“The goal is to preserve the existing infrastructure and gradually shift it into a reinforced structure capable of serving the region sustainably.”
Seated on a stool in the small courtyard adjacent to his room, waiting to be declared cured so he could leave the treatment center, Elie made a decision: he would become a voice in the fight against Ebola.
"I will ask those around me to listen to what the health workers are telling us and to put it into practice. Ebola is very real, but the good news is that it can not only be prevented, but also cured," Elie said solemnly. "I am confident that I will soon be discharged from the treatment center."
"I will ask those around me to listen to what the health workers are telling us and to put it into practice. Ebola is very real, but the good news is that it can not only be prevented, but also cured," Elie said solemnly. "I am confident that I will soon be discharged from the treatment center."
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René Koundou IFONO
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OMS - République Centrafricaine
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