WHO to continue fighting Ebola in DR Congo despite attacks, regional director says
The World Health Organisation says it will continue its efforts to fight the Ebola outbreak that has hit the Democratic Republic of Congo despite attacks on health workers that left one doctor dead.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti made the comments while on a visit to North Kivu to show support for WHO staff and partners.
The statement comes amid reports that health care workers in the center of the Ebola outbreak in the DR Congo have given a one-week ultimatum to the government to improve their security or else they will walk off the job.
“We are all shaken by the violent death of Dr Richard Valery Mouzoko Kiboung. He died saving the lives of people impacted by Ebola. I am here to show his work will continue,” Moeti said in a post on her Twitter account.
Dr Kiboung, an epidemiologist from Cameroon, died on April 19 following an attack on Butembo University Hospital in Butembo, North Kivu province. At least two other people were injured in the incident.
The attack came two days after President Felix Tshisekedi visited Beni in eastern DR Congo where he called for the disarmament of militia that operate in the east and whose presence has complicated the Ebola response.
A lack of trust in the government has frustrated efforts to contain Ebola since the outbreak began late last summer. Some residents falsely accuse foreigners of bringing Ebola to the area.
Following a series of attacks on treatment centres by unidentified assailants in February and March, the current outbreak was recorded to be spreading at its fastest rate yet.
The WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the Ebola outbreak will only be contained if crucial response activities are allowed to take place without violence.
