Asili and Afya Partner to Protect Frontline Health Workers Amid DRC Ebola Outbreak
In-kind donation of personal protective equipment strengthens Ebola response in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Afya staff prepare pallets of donated personal protective equipment (PPE) for shipment to Bukavu, where it will arrive before the end of July. Photo provided by Afya.
Asili, a locally led social enterprise providing clean water and healthcare in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and Afya, a humanitarian organization that rescues and delivers surplus medical supplies to communities in need globally, announced a new partnership to support Ebola outbreak response efforts in South Kivu. Through the partnership, Afya provided the first of multiple planned shipments of critical personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, gloves, face shields, gowns, and thermometers, to protect Asili’s frontline health and water teams as they continue serving their communities.
In May 2026, the World Health Organization declared a Grade 3 Emergency, its highest level of response, following a new Ebola outbreak in Ituri Province, DRC. The outbreak originated directly north of Asili’s operations in South Kivu, raising urgent concern across the region.
Today, Asili serves more than 280,000 people through 49 operational water points and three health facilities in Bukavu and Minova, operated entirely by local Congolese teams. This locally led approach has built deep trust within the communities Asili serves, especially during times of crisis.
In response to the Ebola outbreak, Asili has acted quickly to protect its staff and the communities it serves by implementing temperature screenings and infection prevention protocols, installing handwashing stations at every health facility and water point that are monitored by community “Water Mamas,” and displaying educational signage to promote safe hygiene practices and raise awareness about Ebola prevention.
With PPE unavailable in local markets and time-sensitive needs on the ground, Afya’s in-kind donation is enabling Asili’s teams to continue operating safely. Valéry Namuto, Asili’s CEO, shared, “The in-kind PPE donation from Afya is helping safeguard our frontline teams, allowing them to continue delivering the essential services that our communities depend on during this challenging time. Clean water and healthcare are needed now more than ever and protecting those who deliver these services is essential. We are incredibly grateful to have a partner like Afya. They did not hesitate to stand with us in a moment of
urgent need. We encourage other organizations and supporters who care to join this effort and be part of the story helping to make change possible.”
Since the outbreak began, Afya has been working with partners across the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda to identify urgent PPE needs and move critical supplies to healthcare workers on the frontlines. By rescuing surplus medical supplies from the U.S. healthcare system and rapidly matching them with requests from trusted local partners, Afya helps close dangerous supply gaps during public health emergencies. The shipment to Asili is part of Afya’s broader Ebola response, ensuring the people delivering healthcare and essential services have the protection they need to continue serving their communities.
“We don’t believe in guessing what communities need. We believe in partnering with organizations like Asili that have earned the trust of the people they serve and understand the challenges they’re facing every day,” said Danielle Butin, Founder and CEO of Afya. “By listening first and responding to their requests, we can deliver the right supplies at the right time.”
This partnership reflects a shared belief: the strongest emergency responses are built on trusted local leadership and global collaboration. By combining Asili’s deep community roots with Afya’s supply chain expertise, the two organizations are helping ensure frontline teams have the resources they need to keep serving their communities throughout the Ebola response.
How You Can Help
Asili and Afya invite individuals and organizations to join this effort to protect frontline health workers and keep essential services running in South Kivu.
● Support Asili: Asili.org
● Support Afya: afyafoundation.org/eboladisaster/
About Afya
Founded in 2008, Afya rescues surplus medical supplies and equipment from U.S. healthcare facilities and redistributes them to under-resourced health systems worldwide. To date, Afya has delivered more than 13 million pounds to over 90 countries and 24 U.S. States, improving health outcomes and reducing environmental waste.
