WHO calls for ceasefire in Ebola-hit DR Congo’s North Kivu
UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations World Health Organisation ( WHO) has called for a ceasefire in a conflict- torn region of the Democratic Republic of Congo ( DRC) as continued fighting there is hampering efforts to control an Ebola outbreak.
More than 40 people have already died in North Kivu province in the eastern DRC and the on-going conflict between the government and armed rebels is creating an environment conducive to the spread of the deadly diseas, says WHO director- general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
He was speaking in Geneva on Tuesday after a recent visit to the DRC.
The Ebola outbreak in North Kivu’s Beni region, which shares borders with Uganda and Rwanda, came just days after an initial outbreak in Equateur Province — about 1,000 kilometres to the west of North Kivua — was declared contained.
“The active conf lict is the other challenge and the red zones which are inaccessible and of course in addition to that the high population density, the high population movement, not only internally but also across borders into neighbouring countries are the serious challenges,” he said.
“What we are asking the international community is to help in ensuring access to the inaccessible areas.
“And also we call on the warring parties for cessation of hostilities, because the virus is dangerous to all. It doesn’t choose between this group or that group.”
There are dozens of armed groups operating in North Kivu with over 120 incidents of violence recorded since January this year.
The area also has a high population density, which unlike Equateur Province could further complicate the response.
Ghebreyesusm who described Ebola as a very dangerous enemy, said: “We have to be vigilant, we have to follow 24/7, and we need to be very flexible in changing the way we tackle the virus, based on the situation.
“We have to be pragmatic and that is what we are saying. So at all levels, including myself, we are focused on following up the situation, the follow-up is 24/7 and we will do or decide the right thing based on the situation.”
The WHO says it is increasing the number of health professionals on the ground and doing everything possible in order to be more aggressive with the virus.
The UN Children’s Fund (Unicef) has shipped an additional 90 tons of health, water and sanitation supplies to the eastern DRC.
Unicef’s Deputy Country Representative Tajudeen Oyewale says: “Our role as Unicef is basically taking technical leadership role in three areas.
“The first is on communication. We are responsible for ensuring that community members understand what they need to do to prevent and protect them. The second is on water, hand washing and hygiene.”
Oyewale says they need to make sure that people do not transmit infections by adopting good behaviour.
“The last is to provide psychosocial support to families, including children, of cases affected by Ebola.
“And this is why we partner with everyone including WHO and the government to contribute towards the response to the Ebola outbreak in the DRC.”
So far there have been 57 cases — 30 confirmed and 27 suspected — while 41 people have died in the eastern DRC, already surpassing the number of cases reported in the more sparsely populated Equateur Province in the west of the country.
As part of the response, the government has begun the use of an experimental treatment known as mAb114, the first time it’s been deployed in an active outbreak.
The WHO says patients who have received the drug are reported to be doing well while vaccinations are also on going in the region. — Bernama