The situation of the Ebola virus is worsening in DR Congo, while the "funding gap" continues to widen, "warns the United Nations health agency

After their visit to Butembo, to express their gratitude and support to the staff, following the recent attack on a treatment center that killed Dr. Richard Mouzoko and injured two others, the head of the World Health Organization Health (WHO), Tedros Ghebreyesus, and Dr Matshidiso Moeti, Regional Director for Africa, reiterated his commitment to "defeating Ebola".

During the visit, Mr. Moeti and Mr. Tedros assessed the next steps needed to adjust the response after meeting with local political, business and religious leaders, urging them to intensify their efforts to help stabilize conditions on the ground.

"Most Ebola response activities, including community engagement, vaccination and case investigation, have been revived after a slowdown following the attack." The increase in the number of cases reported in recent weeks puts even more resources to the test, "said the statement.

"We will continue to adjust the response, as we have done for each context in each community," said Dr. Moeti, calling for action. "Ultimately, the epidemic will end only through ownership by all affected communities. Some would like the Ebola virus to separate us. We can only defeat it if we all work together, "she added.

"We are entering a phase where we will need major changes in the response," said Tedros, adding that the challenges could only be solved if the international community intervened to "close the huge funding gap", which is close to the 50%. underfunded.

Pride and respect of the staff of the WHO

The head of the WHO also said in his statement that the death of Dr. Mouzoko had "deeply moved him," adding that the highly respected epidemiologist deployed by the agency "was in his spirit throughout the visit, while they were meeting other colleagues ".
Mr. Moeti stressed that his colleagues had gone through a period "unimaginable and that they were nevertheless willing to continue this vital work".

Reiterating the importance of controlling the security situation for staff and the local population, she said that WHO would continue to work with various groups and integrate their response at the community level.

More than 1,200 confirmed and probable cases of Ebola have been recorded since the beginning of the epidemic, and more than 760 deaths have been confirmed.