Mississauga, ON—World Vision has donated $125,000 to the Angolan Ministry of Health in its continued fight against the deadly Marburg Virus. Since the start of the outbreak, at least 237 people, mainly in the northern province of Uige, have died from the Ebola-like virus.

“We are very concerned that the virus will spread to the Central Highlands of the country,” says World Vision Angola health manager Dr. Ana Mangueira. “The community of Cululo Commune in Huambo Province is particularly at risk because people from the Congo are travelling through Uige and going to the fields in Cululo to buy beans.”

World Vision has sent out protective gowns, masks, hats, and gloves to the provincial director of health in Huambo Province to prepare for any cases of Marburg that may appear in the region. Health officials now fear that Marburg will continue to spread if the cultural barriers attached to fighting the virus are not addressed.

“Cultural barriers, such as traditional greetings and burial ceremonies, both of which involve hugging and kissing, are of major concern to us,” says Dr. Mangueria. “The respect of cultural traditions is always a priority for World Vision, however we must, as an international health community, advise Angolans against any actions that put them at greater risk of infection.”

During recent meetings with Angola’s vice minister for health, Jose Van Dunem, World Vision was advised that the focus has to be on reducing infection, not on upholding cultural practices. The health community is now trying to persuade people to stop going to traditional healers who claim to have a cure for the virus as this can lead to further infection.

“This crisis is very serious and there is an enormous national shortage of urgently needed medical supplies including protective clothing and disinfectant,” says Dr. Mangueira. “The authorities are begging us for donations, especially to set up isolation units.”

To date, World Vision has donated numerous protective materials for health care workers, including 1,000 gowns, 38,500 disposable gloves, 5,000 hats and masks and more than 200 litres of basic disinfectant for use in the provincial hospital in Uige. World Vision also donated 32 bicycles to community health activists to go out and educate communities about the danger of the virus and how to recognize symptoms.

In 2000, the Ugandan government commended World Vision for its response during the Ebola outbreak. We are now working to assist Angola as it tries to deal effectively with one of its worst public health situations.

World Vision is an international Christian humanitarian relief and development organization, working in more than 90 countries helping approximately 85 million people each year.