A bipartisan duo of senators is pressing Secretary of State Marco Rubio to unlock critical funding and supplies intended to protect women and children from the devastating effects of an Ebola outbreak in East Africa. Senators Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska, and Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire, penned a letter on Thursday calling for the release of $608 million in congressionally approved international family-planning funds and $1.7 million worth of already-procured medical supplies.
Urgent Need for Family Planning Resources
The senators highlighted the dire situation for pregnant women and infants facing Ebola, noting the virus’s catastrophic impact during pregnancy. “Ebola during pregnancy is catastrophic, with a nearly 100 percent fetal loss rate and catastrophic material mortality risk due to severe hemorrhaging,” the lawmakers stated in their letter. They emphasized that providing voluntary family planning options and protection against virus transmission could prevent further loss of life for both mothers and fetuses.
The family-planning supplies, which the senators indicated include items like condoms, hormonal contraceptives, and essential medicines for post-rape care and hemorrhage control, are reportedly being held at a facility in Geel, Belgium. According to the senators’ understanding, if these supplies are not deployed soon, they face destruction. This potential waste of life-saving resources comes as the Ebola outbreak continues to pose a significant threat.
Humanitarian Exception Requested
Beyond the immediate release of existing supplies and funds, Murkowski and Shaheen also requested that the State Department grant a “humanitarian exception.” This exception would enable support for the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) established health clinics operating in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). These clinics are vital in providing essential health services in regions grappling with the epidemic.
The Grim Reality of the Outbreak
The statistics underscore the urgency of the senators’ plea. As of July 29, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a grim toll in the DRC, with 3,532 confirmed Ebola cases and 1,556 deaths, translating to a mortality rate of approximately 44%. Neighboring Uganda has also seen an impact, with 20 confirmed cases and two fatalities recorded by the CDC.
The senators conveyed the rapid spread of the virus leaves “no time for delay in providing all possible interventions to save lives.” They pointed out that the United States’ response to the outbreak is already approaching $1 billion, framing the investment in voluntary family planning not just as a moral imperative but also as a “fiscally rational” measure.
Origins and Spread of the Outbreak
The current Ebola outbreak’s earliest known case involved a healthcare worker in the Ituri Province of the DRC who began showing symptoms in late April and subsequently died. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that transmission might have commenced as early as March. The WHO was officially notified of the outbreak on May 5, following the deaths of four healthcare workers within a four-day span. Ten days later, investigations confirmed the illness was caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a specific strain of Ebola.
The senators’ call to action emphasizes the critical need for swift and decisive action to mitigate the ongoing humanitarian crisis and protect vulnerable populations from the deadly virus.
