Church representatives in Congo have urged international action to contain Ebola, after an epidemic in the country’s eastern provinces was declared an emergency by the World Health Organisation.
“The Congolese people have suffered so many troubles in recent years – Ebola is only the latest,” said Msgr Andre Massinganda, deputy secretary-general of the Congolese bishops’ conference.
“Our greatest need now is for those with power to identify an effective strategy for containing the disease and to come to the aid, via the United Nations, of our government and population.”
The priest spoke as the World Health Organisation, meeting last week in Geneva, declared the Ebola outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern”, after signs it could have spread to Goma, a city of up to two million people bordering Rwanda.
Msgr Massinganda said Church leaders were satisfied that local authorities were doing what they could to isolate potential victims and were pleased the “gravity of the situation” had been recognised internationally.
“In places like Butembo, Beni and Goma, where there are large churches and public centres, there’s now great unease about possible spread throughout our country and abroad – it’s a problem that has to be taken seriously.”
Ebola, a highly contagious and mostly fatal virus causing haemorrhagic fever, devastated parts of West Africa from 2014 to 2016, killing more than 11,000 people.
