The head of the World Health Organisation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has called for greater international assistance to contain the spread of the deadly Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as he arrived in the eastern province most affected by the outbreak.
The WHO Director-General told reporters in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, that the international community was already assisting the Congolese authorities in managing the situation.
He added that stronger “community ownership” was required, alongside efforts to address mistrust and false information, as well as increased financial support from other countries.
“We are here to discuss with the community, to see how the response is running and if there are challenges to help,” he said.
At a press briefing later in Ituri, he further stated: “You’re not alone in this. We’re here, we’re with you, and we will see this through together.”
The highly contagious haemorrhagic fever has already been reported in three eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as in neighbouring Uganda.
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