This is a statement from the commander of the 22nd military region, General Eddy Kapend, which he made on Tuesday, February 6, during a meeting with a delegation from UNICEF, Lubumbashi office.

According to this army officer, "72 hours ago, there were exactly 144 patients being treated. We have had 14 deaths, but many sick have been saved and returned to the ranks. This is an opportunity for me to thank UNICEF and the efforts they have made, because it has allowed us to save lives at the Mura training center," declared Eddy Kapend.

According to him, the epidemic is being controlled in this military hospital with the support of the UN agency. Nevertheless, he says, he regrets that the children have fallen ill due to an epidemic while they came to the center to learn to serve the Republic, far from their families. This disease, adds Eddy Kapend, is due in part to the unsanitary conditions in the Mura military camp, where there is a high concentration of personnel.

"It was very, very hard for us even as the head of the military jurisdiction and for the parents who lost children," added this officer from the FARDC.

He also praised the contribution of UNICEF in the ongoing eradication of this epidemic.

"The support from UNICEF is something very, very important to us—an opportunity for me to thank this United Nations system and to continue to rely on their support in all the conditions where it will be necessary," he stated.

Gisèle Mbuyi