JamzNG Latest News, Gist, Entertainment in Nigeria
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus briefed journalists in Geneva a day after returning from Congo, where he met with various stakeholders and said he was encouraged by the Government’s commitment to fighting the deadly epidemic, which has also spread to neighboring Uganda.
“What I saw gave me hope,” He said.
“This outbreak had a big start, and we are still behind, but under the leadership of the Congolese Government, we can catch up.”
Decreasing caseload
The outbreak was caused by a rare Bundibugyo strain Ebola a virus for which there is no treatment although three vaccines are being developed.
Tedros said 344 cases had been confirmed in Congo, including 60 deaths. Meanwhile, The number of suspected cases has now fallen from more than 1,000 last week to 116 as the team works through the backlog.
The epicenter of the outbreak is in eastern Ituri province, and cases have also occurred in North and South Kivu provinces. This comes amidst ongoing violence by armed groups, other health threats such as malaria, and urgent humanitarian needs.
Three Ebola treatment centers are now operating in Ituri’s capital, Bunia, with a capacity of 80 beds. Treatment units have also been set up in five other regional cities, and more are under construction.
Risk and recovery
Meanwhile, Uganda recorded one confirmed death and 15 confirmed casesincluding a Congolese citizen who traveled there from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). An American citizen, infected in Congo, continues to receive treatment in Germany.
WHOThe risk assessment at the national level has not changed, it is still very high at the national level and high at the regional level low global risk.
Six people in Congo and two people in Uganda have recovered to date, “showing that people can survive Ebola if they have access to care and go to health facilities as soon as they show symptoms.”
A WFP worker speaks to women preparing food for people affected by Ebola in Goma, the capital of Congo’s North Kivu Province.
Increase effort
Tedros outlined the existing challenges, and stressed that increasing laboratory and diagnostic capacity is a top priority to ensure a faster response.
Contact tracing measures are necessary, this is very difficult to carry out due to insecurity, displacement and population movement. He says the current follow-up rate, about 45 percent, needs to reach more than 90 percent “to overcome this outbreak”.
WHO also called on countries that have imposed travel restrictions to lift these restrictions as these measures disrupt supply chains and hinder response efforts. The UN agency recommends exit checks at airports, ports and border crossings.
Building public trust
Tedros stressed the importance of building trust with local communities to control the outbreak. “Public distrust is a serious obstaclehe said. “Several community leaders told me they believed Ebola was not real.”
Although there is currently no vaccine or therapy available to treat this outbreak, WHO and its partners are working to conduct clinical trials as quickly as possible.
In this regard, Tedros on Wednesday convened the second meeting of the medical network, established in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, to strengthen diagnostics, immediately support affected countries in leading clinical trials and accelerate investment to support the overall response.
“While vaccines and therapies will be helpful, the key to ending this outbreak is not biomedicine. leadership, ownership, partnership and trusthe said.
Commitment and support
Congo has faced 16 previous Ebola outbreaks and Tedros is adamant that these outbreaks will be stopped, but the “true measure of success” is preventing a future recurrence of Ebola and addressing broader health needs.
“If the people of Ituri survive Ebola and die of malaria or malnutrition, or pneumonia or diarrheal disease or HIV or diabetes, then we haven’t really helped them,” he said.
He underscored the commitment of WHO and its partners to end this outbreak, under the leadership of the Congolese authorities.
“When this crisis ends, we will remain committed to supporting local governments and communities to build the health and human services they need and deserve,” he said.
