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World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visited the Butembo region in the Democratic Republic of Congo, while concerns over the safety of health personnel 39, the Ebola epidemic was intensifying.
The visit comes as health workers gave the government a one – week ultimatum to improve their safety, otherwise they would withdraw from work.
A Cameroonian doctor died on April 19 following an attack on the Butembo University Hospital in Butembo, North Kivu Province. At least two other people were injured in the incident.
The attack took place two days after President Felix Tshisekedi's visit to Beni, eastern DRC, where he called for the disarmament of militias operating in the east and whose presence has complicated the response to Ebola.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, was also in North Kivu to support WHO staff and partners.
Moeti said that despite the attacks, WHO would continue its efforts to combat the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Ghebreyesus told WHO stakeholders that leaders were there to discuss ways to improve their safety and strengthen the Ebola response.
"I was very moved to meet our brave colleagues in Butembo, who remain strong after the death of our colleague. As they said, we are the WHO, we are saving lives, we will not be intimidated, we will finish the job, "Ghebreyesus said in a message posted on his official Twitter account.
Lack of confidence in the government has thwarted efforts to contain Ebola since the beginning of the epidemic last summer. Some residents falsely accuse foreigners of carrying the Ebola virus in the region.
Following a series of attacks on treatment centers by unidentified badailants in February and March, it was found that the current outbreak was spreading at its fastest pace so far.
The WHO has stated that the Ebola outbreak will only be controlled if critical response activities are allowed to proceed without violence.
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