Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), is currently in Congo to address the Ebola outbreak in the nation. Ghebreyesus met with Lieutenant-General Johnny Luboya Nkashama, the Governor of Ituri, the province in Congo with the highest number of Ebola cases caused by the Bundibugyo virus.
During their discussions, both parties emphasized the need to improve coordination among health and humanitarian organizations to align their efforts with the government’s leadership in managing the response. Ghebreyesus arrived in Kinshasa on Thursday to show support to affected communities and reinforce that the WHO stands with them during this crisis.
The WHO chief described the Ebola situation in Congo as highly intricate due to factors such as conflict, insecurity, displacement, food shortages, and community distrust, which are hindering containment efforts. Meanwhile, India has pledged ongoing assistance to affected countries and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in addressing this health emergency.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, confirmed the dispatch of medical supplies to the Africa CDC, handed over by the Indian High Commissioner in Uganda, Upender Singh Rawat. Jaiswal expressed India’s commitment to supporting the Africa CDC and affected nations in combating the public health crisis, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in such emergencies.
