WHO: Ebola Response in DR Congo Requires More Funding

The World Health Organisation (WHO) believes that measures to tackle the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are starting to yield results. However, greater funding is still required, stated WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“We are starting to see encouraging signs that we are beginning to control the situation,” said Ghebreyesus during a briefing in Geneva on Wednesday.

In the most affected region in Ituri Province, he noted that transmission is beginning to decline, while South Kivu has reported no new cases since May. More than 1,700 people have recovered.

“And after four months, the outbreak has largely been brought under control in the north-eastern region of the DRC, except for a small outbreak in Uganda which was quickly contained,” he said.

“We ask all donors to ensure that both the government’s response plan and broader humanitarian efforts receive full funding,” he added.

He stated that clinical trials are expected to begin in the coming weeks. At the same time, the WHO leader emphasised that the deadly outbreak continues to spread.

“In areas with very high population mobility, the outbreak can still spread,” said Ghebreyesus.

Last week, the DRC government released a 180-day Ebola response plan requiring funds amounting to US$1.3 billion (approximately Rp23 trillion).

According to the latest report released by the DRC government on Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases has reached 7,258, while 3,510 deaths have been recorded since May.