The Ebola epidemic in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to cause serious concern.
According to data presented by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Lubumbashi, Haut-Katanga, DRC Friday, the epidemic, declared on May 15, initially affected only three health zones in Ituri province. Just over a month later, it had spread to more than 33 health zones across Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu as they paint a worrying picture of the disease's progression.
“At the time the epidemic was declared, we had three health zones affected. Today, we have more than 33 affected zones, including 21 in Ituri, 11 in North Kivu and one in South Kivu,” said Anne Dr. Ancia, interim representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the DRC.
One of the main hotspots of the epidemic remains the mining town of Mongbwalu, in Ituri. This locality, marked by artisanal gold mining, insecurity, and frequent population displacements, presents a particularly complex context for the response teams.
“We have 896 confirmed cases and 232 deaths, but also 78 people who have recovered. This demonstrates that the collective response efforts are beginning to produce results,” the WHO official emphasized.
Ituri province accounts for 827 confirmed cases, or 80%.
To contain the epidemic, more than 68 national and international partners are working alongside the Congolese government. United Nations agencies, NGOs, civil society organizations, and mining sector stakeholders are participating in this multisectoral response.
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The capacity to detect Ebola cases has increased considerably in Ituri province, where the epidemic continues to rage.
Health authorities cite the dramatic increase in testing capacity. The number of tests carried out daily has risen from 9 to more than 2,000.
Lastly, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has announced that all healthcare services in Ituri province will be free during the Ebola epidemic, according to the Minister of Public Health, Hygiene, and Social Welfare, Roger Kamba.
The measure applies to all health facilities in the province and covers all diseases, not just Ebola cases.
This decision aims to allow the population to access healthcare without financial constraints in a context marked by the response to the epidemic. Health authorities hope this will encourage faster access to healthcare facilities and improve patient care.