The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that fear surrounding the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has led to a 42% decline in the use of health services, raising concerns that more people could die from preventable and treatable illnesses.
According to UNICEF, hospitals and clinics in communities hardest hit by the outbreak have recorded a sharp drop in patient visits as families avoid health facilities for fear of contracting Ebola. The agency said the decline is affecting routine medical care, maternal health services, childhood immunisation and the treatment of common diseases such as malaria and pneumonia.
Health officials warned that the indirect effects of the outbreak could rival the virus itself if people continue to delay or avoid seeking medical attention. Children and pregnant women are considered among the most vulnerable groups affected by the reduction in healthcare access.
UNICEF said health workers are intensifying community outreach to reassure residents that hospitals remain safe and that strict infection prevention and control measures have been introduced at treatment facilities. The agency is also supporting public awareness campaigns aimed at combating misinformation and encouraging people to seek medical care when needed.
The warning comes as the DRC continues to battle one of its most serious Ebola outbreaks, with health authorities working alongside the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international partners to contain transmission through surveillance, contact tracing, isolation and treatment.
Humanitarian agencies say fear, misinformation and insecurity in parts of eastern DRC continue to complicate the response, making it more difficult to identify cases early and maintain essential health services.
UNICEF urged donors to increase support for both Ebola response efforts and routine healthcare services, stressing that protecting access to primary healthcare is essential to preventing additional deaths unrelated to the virus.
Public health experts note that declining hospital attendance has been a recurring challenge during previous Ebola outbreaks, as fear of infection often discourages people from seeking timely treatment. They say rebuilding public confidence in the health system is critical to controlling the outbreak while ensuring communities continue to receive life-saving medical care.
The agency warned that unless confidence in healthcare facilities is restored, the outbreak could have long-term consequences for child health, maternal care and overall public health in affected communities.
