Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), has told communities in Bunia that local ownership will be key to ending the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Ghebreyesus spoke during a media conference in Ituri, emphasising the importance of community participation in controlling the disease.
He said he was not in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to issue orders but to listen and support locally developed solutions.
“We are here to work under the leadership of the DRC government, in service of its people,” he said.
Ghebreyesus noted that this is DRC’s 17th Ebola epidemic, caused by the Bundibugyo virus — one of six known Ebola species. He added that no licensed vaccine or treatment currently exists for this strain.
He said people infected with Bundibugyo Ebola can survive with proper medical care, and some patients in Ituri have already recovered.
The WHO chief advised anyone experiencing symptoms to seek immediate medical attention, stressing that early treatment significantly improves outcomes.
He will spend two days in Bunia meeting women’s groups, religious leaders, business leaders, and young people to build trust and strengthen community engagement.
On May 30, he met with DRC ministers, the Ituri governor, the Congolese Red Cross, community leaders, Africa CDC, UNICEF, and WFP. On May 29 in Kinshasa, he met Prime Minister Judith Tuluka, who committed to using the response to strengthen DRC’s health system beyond the outbreak.
“What we build here should last well beyond this outbreak,” Ghebreyesus said.
He said WHO and its partners are prioritising hand hygiene, accurate information, and safe, dignified burials. While acknowledging the importance of burial rites, he warned that touching bodies of Ebola victims could spread the virus.
“While we grieve for those we have lost, we must do everything we can so that we do not lose another,” he said.
Ghebreyesus pledged that the response would also ensure the continuation of essential health services and humanitarian assistance across Ituri and other affected areas.
He expressed confidence that DRC would overcome this 17th outbreak, having successfully contained 16 previous ones.
The WHO chief urged countries that imposed travel bans or border closures to reconsider, saying such measures complicate response efforts and discourage transparency.
He assured that WHO’s support will continue even after the outbreak is declared over.
“The goal is to leave behind health workers, hospitals, laboratories and services that will serve Ituri for years. We are here, we are with you, and we will see this through together. You are not alone,” he said.
