Giving Compass' Take:

• Wellcome shares their philanthropic strategy for addressing the ongoing Ebola crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

• How can other organizations work to bolster these efforts and fill in gaps? Would this approach be appropriate in other contexts? 

• Learn about the role of for-profit organizations in fighting outbreaks like Ebola. 

On 8 May 2018, the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) confirmed an outbreak of Ebola virus in the country, in the Équateur Province. On the day Ebola was confirmed, Wellcome released £2 million to fund research in DRC that would support the emergency response. So what research has been supported in DRC, and how will it help halt the ongoing outbreak and prepare us for future epidemics?

Vaccination:
For the first time, an Ebola vaccine was available at the start of an outbreak. The vaccine, rVSV-EBOV, is manufactured by MSD (Merck). Many people have been involved in its development, from researchers at the Public Health Agency of Canada to pharma companies, governments, and NGOs, as well as the scientists and medical teams who ran clinical trials and the volunteers who took part in them.

Clinical care:
People with Ebola need to be able to trust that they will get the best possible care, and the best care starts with the right diagnosis. In its early stages, Ebola tends to involve a fever, aches, and pains – similar to infections like malaria or flu.

During an epidemic, it’s vital to know who actually has Ebola before they develop life-threatening symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhea, organ failure, and internal and external bleeding.

Some of Wellcome’s funding went towards building up DRC's capacity to use and assess new and developing diagnostic tools in outbreaks.

Communication, coordination, and capacity:
Epidemics are alarming and frightening wherever they happen. It's vital that communication between officials and the public is constructive, that research is supported, coordinated and shared, and that people feel engaged with decisions that get made.

Wellcome funded a team to produce operational briefs(opens in a new tab) setting out local social and cultural contexts for both outbreaks.

Preparation:
Ultimately, the effect of quickly committing funding has been to ensure that research is integrated in the emergency response to the Ebola outbreak, led by the DRC government with support from WHO and other partners.

Read the full article about a philanthropic strategy for addressing Ebola at Wellcome.