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WHO Chief: Communities Key to Beating Ebola
30 May
Summary
- WHO chief emphasizes community involvement in fighting Ebola.
- Ebola outbreak in Congo shows unprecedented spread.
- WHO requires more international funding for Ebola response.
The World Health Organisation's chief has called for communities at the heart of the Democratic Republic of Congo's current Ebola outbreak to lead the fight against the disease. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived in Bunia, Ituri province, a significant hotspot for the ongoing epidemic. He highlighted that local populations possess a deep understanding of their challenges and potential solutions.
Tedros emphasized that while the international community and the Congolese government are coordinating the response, "community ownership is important." His visit aims to collaborate with communities, assess the response, and address any challenges. Earlier, upon arriving in Kinshasa, he had appealed for greater international aid, revealing that the WHO had only received a third of its necessary funding.
This 17th Ebola outbreak since 1976 is spreading with unprecedented speed. French aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) warned that the number of cases recorded so soon after its declaration is a historical first. MSF also noted that the current level of medical expert response and support on the ground remains insufficient for the escalating situation.
