DR Congo launches updated 180-day Ebola response plan, seeks 1.3-bln-USD funding

What the report says

The Democratic Republic of the Congo and its partners have launched an updated 180-day multisectoral Ebola response plan aimed at strengthening the fight against the country’s ongoing outbreak, according to The Independent Uganda, citing Xinhua. The plan, introduced in Kinshasa on Friday, is meant to guide operations over the next six months and comes with estimated funding needs of 1.3 billion U.S. dollars.

The report says the response is being backed by the World Health Organization, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and other partners. WHO’s Africa office said the outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, had reached 6,342 reported cases and 3,072 deaths as of Sept. 2, spreading across 60 health zones in six provinces. Health officials remain concerned that many deaths are still occurring in communities before patients reach treatment facilities.

WHO acting representative in the DRC Anne Ancia urged faster, larger-scale coordination, while Health Minister Roger Kamba said containing the outbreak requires action beyond the health sector, including communities, government agencies, donors and partners. United Nations resident coordinator Damien Mama said Ebola response efforts should be integrated into the broader humanitarian response and supported by flexible funding.

The article notes that the current outbreak was officially declared in May and is described as the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak recorded in the DRC to date.