World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Saturday praised the Democratic Republic of the Congo's (DRC) response to the fast-spreading Ebola outbreak, urging government leadership and community-led efforts in stopping the spread of the virus.
Tedros arrived in Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province in northeastern DRC and the epicenter of the ongoing Ebola outbreak, on Saturday. His visit aimed to support the authorities in their response efforts.
At a joint press conference, the WHO chief praised the country's crisis management expertise while emphasizing a proven approach: direct engagement with local communities and leadership from national authorities.
"There is experience in this country, and under the government's leadership and especially with community ownership, we can stop it. These are the ingredients which are important, of course, with the support from the international community as well. So, the issue is in our hands," Tedros said.
On the logistical front, the Congolese government is making concerted efforts to deliver vital supplies to the most affected areas, protect healthcare workers, and test patients.
"We now have all the equipment on site to be able to distribute it. It's really a matter of distribution logistics, which is currently underway. Since yesterday, we have managed to place equipment almost everywhere, simply because it was a matter of logistics duration. We currently have in our warehouses everything needed to cover all the needs for protective equipment, we have everything needed to cover all the needs for medicines, we have everything needed to cover the current needs for tests," said Samuel-Roger Kamba, DRC's Health Minister.
Beyond medical logistics, Patrick Muyaya, DRC's minister of communication and media and government spokesman, emphasized the importance of maintaining public trust amidst the spread of misinformation.
"And we must consider that we are fully aware that with social media and misinformation, there is a risk. And that is why we will now ensure, on a daily basis, that we provide the correct information," he said.
On the ground in Ituri, medical teams are now working under high security, implementing strict community protocols to provide care and isolate the sick. Health corridors and checkpoints have been reinforced to protect civilians and contain the virus's spread.
According to the official epidemiological report released on Sunday, there were 263 confirmed cases as of Friday. Among them, 245 are in Ituri province alone, 15 in North Kivu, and three in South Kivu. The outbreak has already resulted in 42 deaths among confirmed cases, with five recoveries.
WHO chief lauds DR Congo's Ebola response, urges community engagement
WHO chief lauds DR Congo's Ebola response, urges community engagement
