disaster
DR Congo: Ebola in the DRC: How Goma’s Wellness Clinic Fights Distrust
By Direct Relief at ReliefWeb
· July 17, 2026
· 7 min read
. Prince Mbuzukongira and Chantal Mandro of Jericho Road's Wellness Clinic in Goma, DRC, discuss how the latest Ebola outbreak is impacting routine care, and why local trust is key. By Noah Smith The Ebola outbreak has changed daily care at the Wellness Clinic, Jericho Road’s clinic in Goma, Democra
Key takeaway Clinic staff reported a roughly 20% decline in patient visits early in the outbreak.
Why this matters
The decline in patient visits at the Wellness Clinic in Goma, DRC, due to the Ebola outbreak, highlights the indirect yet damaging effects of infectious disease outbreaks on healthcare systems. A 20% drop in patient visits, as reported by clinic staff, can have long-term consequences for patients with chronic conditions, such as malaria, that require timely care. The fact that patient visits began to increase after a patient survived Ebola treatment in the city suggests that local trust and perception of healthcare facilities play a crucial role in the outbreak response. The Wellness Clinic's experience underscores the importance of addressing community fears and building trust in healthcare providers, particularly in regions already affected by conflict and displacement. As the outbreak continues to unfold, the ability of clinics like Jericho Road's Wellness Clinic to maintain essential health services will depend on their capacity to manage patient fears and rebuild trust with the local community.
About this story
Original reporting by ReliefWeb . Christgiving surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit ReliefWeb . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: disaster ·
Published: July 17, 2026 ·
Source: ReliefWeb ·
Reading time: 7 min
Get more Christgiving stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering disaster and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? . Prince Mbuzukongira and Chantal Mandro of Jericho Road's Wellness Clinic in Goma, DRC, discuss how the latest Ebola outbreak is impacting routine care, and why local trust is key. By Noah Smith The Ebola outbreak has changed daily care at the Wellness Clinic, Jericho Road’s clinic in Goma, Democra
When was this published? This article was first published on July 17, 2026 by ReliefWeb and curated for Christgiving readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Direct Relief at ReliefWeb. To learn more about how Christgiving selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more disaster coverage from Christgiving, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .