World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived in the eastern province of Ituri, one of the hardest-hit regions by Ebola, to engage with DRC authorities and local partners on disease response on Saturday.
Footage shows local health officials greeting Ghebreyesus as he arrived in Bunia. The WHO chief can also be seen washing his hands before inspecting the arrangements at the airport.
Speaking to the press, he stressed the importance of community ownership in devising the outbreak response.
“The communities understand the problem better, and they know the solution as well,” Ghebreyesus said. “So I came here to show support, to listen to the communities, and help based on what the communities think we should help with.”
Earlier, Ghebreyesus also held a meeting with the DRC’s Prime Minister Judith Suminwa in Kinshasa to discuss ways to improve the country’s services and emergency preparedness for the disease.
This visit comes as the first confirmed recovery of an Ebola patient was announced this week in the DRC.
According to the Ministry of Health, 225 cases have been confirmed since the start of the outbreak in April, while 142 patients are currently being treated in treatment centres. Health authorities are continuing surveillance and care operations, while the WHO and the Africa CDC are working on evaluating potential vaccines and treatments against the Bundibugyo strain. Enditem
Source: Viory
