During a press conference, the Minister of Public Health, Dr. Oly Ilunga gave an assessment of the evolution of the response to the Ebola virus in the provinces of Nord Kivu and Ituri, specifically in Butembo and Kwata.
It turns out that, the evolution of the response is positive with the control of the epidemic in the majority of affected health areas. Although the epidemic continues to rage in two areas in Katwa and Butembo in Nord Kivu province where there have been recently attacks and fires in Ebola treatment centers.
In his address, the Minister of Health invited all people of influence among others religious actors, politicians, opinion leaders, traditional leaders whose voice carries and counts, to get involved and take a stand of part against attacks aimed at the response.
However the response faces serious difficulties in two health zones, Butembo Katwa. As you have seen in recent days, the response installations have been violently attacked twice in 3-day spaces. The violence of the attacks against the response, which we have been denouncing since the beginning of the response, is dangerously increasing in intensity.
The Minister of Health said that given the seriousness of the situation, all your voices must be united for the protection of the Congolese population. To the general public and to the communities of the affected health zones in particular, we say that it is imperative to cooperate with the agents of the response, facilitate their work and avoid hindering their action because the social and economic consequences of the violence we denounce will be dramatic, not only for the province of Nord Kivu but also for the entire of the country, he said.
(CKS/Yes)