DR Congo unveils expanded plan to combat fastest-growing Ebola outbreak
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and its partners on Friday launched an updated 180-day multisectoral response plan aimed at intensifying efforts to contain the ongoing Ebola outbreak, with funding requirements estimated at $1.3 billion.
Supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and other partners, the revised plan is intended to serve as the operational roadmap for the Ebola response over the next six months, Xinhua reported.
According to the WHO Regional Office for Africa, the outbreak, which is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, had reached 6,342 reported cases and 3,072 deaths as of Sept. 2. The virus has spread to 60 health zones across six provinces.
Health authorities are particularly concerned that a significant proportion of deaths continue to occur within communities, often involving people who had not previously been identified as contacts and had not reached health facilities before their deaths.
“Every case detected too late, every contact missed and every delay in mobilizing resources translates into lives lost,” Anne Ancia, acting WHO representative in the DRC, said, urging rapid and coordinated action on a larger scale.
DRC Health Minister Roger Kamba said containing the outbreak would require efforts extending beyond the health sector and involving communities, government agencies, partners and donors.
“The government is fully mobilized to protect every Congolese,” Kamba said.
The WHO said full implementation of the revised response plan would require an estimated $1.3 billion in funding.
Damien Mama, United Nations resident coordinator in the DRC, said the Ebola response must be incorporated into the broader humanitarian effort and backed by adequate, flexible and predictable funding.
The Africa CDC also pledged to continue supporting national response efforts, including mobilizing resources, coordinating with partners and strengthening community involvement.
The current outbreak, which was officially declared in May, has become the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak recorded in the DRC so far.
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