Ebola has been declared a public health emergency in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). There is currently no approved vaccine.

Now, a second crisis is unfolding alongside the outbreak: pregnant women, afraid to go to hospitals, are giving birth at home. Maternal deaths have doubled since May 25, with more than six mothers dying each week.

When pregnant women contract Ebola, the fetal loss rate is nearly 100%.

UNFPA Midwife Francine works at a health center in a displacement camp. She described the moment she decided to keep showing up despite the danger:

"My fear left me when I saw people dying in that camp. If I didn't act, the pregnant women would die too."

Will you rush a lifesaving gift to deliver supplies and care to pregnant women and newborns during this outbreak?

Midwife Esther takes the temperature of a pregnant woman at a displacement camp. © UNFPA DRC/Junior Mayindu

During Ebola outbreaks, fear and misinformation keep women away from health facilities. Maternity wards become harder to access. Routine healthcare is disrupted. Women who would normally deliver with skilled medical support may instead give birth at home, placing both mothers and newborns at greater risk. Women also face a disproportionate risk of contracting the virus as primary caregivers for sick family members and as frontline healthcare workers, including midwives and nurses.

Your gift reaches women and girls when they need it most. Right now, lifesaving donations are equipping midwives to carry out safe deliveries, training healthcare workers in infection prevention, and providing personal protective equipment designed specifically for delivery rooms. UNFPA Dignity Kits are being distributed to clinics and hospitals across the country.

More than 150 midwives have been deployed. Midwife Esther, who works alongside Francine, described her team's work:

"We are raising awareness among pregnant women about the importance of adhering to preventive measures, [...] encouraging them to quickly recognize the danger signs related to pregnancy and to seek immediate medical attention."

Nearly 63,700 pregnant women are in affected areas. Will you deliver lifesaving care to them and their babies?

Francine, a midwife at the UNFPA-supported Kigonze Health Centre in Bunia, Ituri Province, assists a successful birth in a displacement camp. © UNFPA DRC/Junior Mayindu

Even during an Ebola outbreak, women still become pregnant. Babies are still born. Mothers still need prenatal care, safe deliveries, emergency obstetric services, and postpartum support.

And healthcare workers still need the tools to do their jobs safely.

"Despite the severity of Ebola, I have a duty as a midwife to support women and girls," said Francine. "That's what motivates us every day."

In communities already facing conflict, displacement, and poverty, these services cannot stop because another crisis has arrived. Please make an emergency gift today to reach mothers, newborns, and healthcare workers during this outbreak.

Thank you,
USA for UNFPA