Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), has made his way to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in response to the devastating Ebola outbreak that has claimed at least 220 lives in the Ituri province.
Upon his arrival, Dr. Tedros issued an open letter to the people of the DRC, earnestly calling for a ceasefire amid ongoing conflicts. His message was clear and heartfelt, urging for peace to address the health crisis.
“No cause, no conflict, no grievance is worth condemning innocent people to death from a preventable disease,” he wrote, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. “A ceasefire, even a temporary one, would save lives. I urge you, I implore you: give us the space to help the people who need it most.”
The region is embroiled in turmoil with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, the Islamic State-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces, and various militias actively engaging in attacks, further complicating the health crisis.
Dr. Tedros also took a moment to address the past shortcomings of the WHO, acknowledging the anger and mistrust stemming from some communities. He recognized these issues and expressed an understanding of the sentiments faced by those affected.
Ghebreyesus also ackowledged past failures by the WHO, saying he understood why there was anger and mistrust in some communities.
“Trust must be earned, it cannot be assumed,” he wrote.
“But I promise you, we are here to learn as much as we are here to help.”
Health workers in the country face dangers from the highly-contagious and deadly disease itself, especially as many are forced to work without proper protective equipment due to difficulties in securing aid.
But they are also at physical risk from the people, with communities angered over strict burial protocols that violate cultural practices, as well as heavy movement restrictions.
At least three health care centres have been attacked in Ituri province, Associated Press has reported.
Ghebreyesus promised “dignified burials” in his letter.
“I know that many of you are exhausted. You are already carrying so much: malaria, hunger, insecurity, and the daily struggle to keep your families safe. And now Ebola. It is not fair, and I will not pretend otherwise,” Ghebreyesus said in his letter.
He exhorted the people of the Congo to come together, saying that only by working all in concert could the outbreak be contained and the disease defeated, as in the past.
But he did not sugar-coat the dangers faced by the whole population.
“I need to be honest with you about something important. Most previous Ebola outbreaks in DRC were caused by a virus called Ebola Zaire, for which we have vaccines and treatments,” he wrote.
“This outbreak is caused by a different virus called Ebola Bundibugyo. There are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for it. This is serious, and you deserve to hear that plainly.
“But I also want you to know this: while there are no specific treatments for Bundibugyo, there is much we can do together to prevent the spread of this virus and save lives.
“Early supportive care in our treatment centres can make a real difference. If you or someone you know falls ill, please do not wait.”
The WHO has declared the outbreak an international public health emergency, and global aid has started arriving in the country, including from the European Union.
There are more than 1000 suspected cases so far in the DRC.
