Health Leaders Strengthen Regional Coordination to Combat Ebola Outbreak in DRC and Uganda
African health leaders and global partners convened in Kampala to enhance regional coordination and mobilize resources in response to the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. The meeting aimed to ensure the continuity of essential services, including education and routine healthcare, while addressing other public health challenges such as cholera and measles.
High-Level Meeting Addresses Urgent Health Crisis
The high-level ministerial meeting was led by Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). Health ministers from the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan participated, alongside representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and various technical partners.
The discussions centered on enhancing surveillance systems, harmonizing preparedness measures across borders, and sustaining frontline health services. The leaders emphasized the need for a coordinated response in a region marked by significant cross-border movement, insecurity, and limited access to approved vaccines or therapeutics for the Bundibugyo strain.
Urgency of a Coordinated Regional Response
Dr. Kaseya highlighted the outbreak’s regional implications, stating, “This outbreak is not a DRC issue; it is a regional issue.” He cautioned against viewing it as confined to the DRC, drawing parallels to the COVID-19 pandemic. The outbreak has thus far resulted in 96 confirmed cases and 11 confirmed deaths in the DRC and Uganda, with an additional 867 suspected cases and 204 suspected deaths currently under investigation.
Dr. Roger Kamba, the DRC’s Minister of Health, noted that insecurity and laboratory limitations complicated the initial response. He explained that delays occurred because the laboratory in Bunia could not detect the Bundibugyo strain, necessitating the transfer of samples to Kinshasa for analysis.
Unified Continental Response Framework Endorsed
The meeting culminated in the endorsement of a unified continental response framework, which is structured around a “one team, one plan, one budget, and one implementation model.” This framework will be coordinated by the Africa CDC and WHO’s Incident Management Support Team (IMST). President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda offered to host the IMST in Kampala.
Dr. Marie Roseline Belizaire, Emergency Director at WHO-AFRO, emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating, “No single agency, no single country can respond to this magnitude of outbreak alone.” She underscored that coordination and solidarity among countries and partners are vital for an effective response.
Focus on Essential Services and Vulnerable Populations
Participants agreed on a comprehensive package of regional actions, including strengthening cross-border surveillance, harmonizing public health measures at entry points, improving laboratory and diagnostic capacities, and reinforcing infection prevention and control measures. UNICEF Regional Director Ms. Etleva Kadilli stressed the importance of maintaining essential services, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, girls, and women.
The disproportionate impact of the outbreak on women and frontline caregivers was also highlighted. Ms. Lydia Zigomo, Regional Director of UNFPA, noted that women account for over 60% of the recorded infections, primarily due to their roles as frontline responders in home care settings.
Call for Research and Funding
Leaders called for accelerated research and development of vaccines and therapeutics specifically targeting the Bundibugyo strain. They urged countries and partners to enhance community engagement, risk communication, and laboratory systems, as well as preparedness capacities in high-risk border districts.
Preliminary estimates indicate that approximately US$264 million may be required for response operations in the DRC and Uganda, with an additional US$54 million needed to bolster preparedness in neighboring high-risk countries, including South Sudan. Dr. Kaseya noted that these figures remain subject to further review.
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Published on 2026-05-26 18:39:00 • By the Editorial Desk
