The Response to the outbreak of Ebola virus Epidemic

The President of the Republic, Joseph Kabila Kabange presided yesterday at the Government Building, the 16th extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers. Only one item was on the agenda, namely: the response to the outbreak of Ebola virus disease presented by the Minister of Public Health. It has, on occasion, presented 9 measures constituting the components of the response namely. However, the budget of the response amounts to 43 million USD covered respectively by a balance of 13 million USD earmarked for stabilisation after the response to the previous epidemic in Ecuador and the government’s own funds through the PDSS program. financed by the World Bank and partners (China, Japan, DIFID, USAID, Canada), which allowed for no funding gap.

MINUTES OF THE 16th EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

Under the presidency of the President of the Republic, HE Joseph Kabila Kabange, the Council of Ministers held its 16th extraordinary meeting on 22 August 2018 at the Government Building.

Only one point was entered on the agenda:

Examination and adoption of a file

This case concerns the dossier on the response to the Ebola virus epidemic presented by the Minister of Public Health who reported that it was on July 27, 2018 that his services were alerted by group deaths occurring in the Mangina health area, Mabalako Health Zone with a clinical picture of fever, diarrhoea, vomiting and other hemorrhagic signs. An investigative team sent to the scene on 30 July collected and sent six samples to Goma and Kinshasa, four of which were positive at Ebola Zaire (Likati). The declaration of the epidemic occurred on August 1st. The following day, August 2, the Minister of Public Health went down to Mangina with the Governor of North Kivu to deploy the first team of specialists in epidemiology, laboratory and care.

This epidemic, whose epicentre has been located on the edge of two densely populated provinces, North Kivu and Ituri, as well as the high mobility of the population presents a major public health challenge. In fact, probable deaths have been reported in the Beni, Oicha, Mabalako, Butembo, Musienene and Mandima health zones, while those in Beni, Oicha, Mabalako and Mangina have reported confirmed cases.

The Minister of Public Health presented 9 measures constituting the components of the response namely:

    Epidemiological surveillance;
    Monitoring entry and exit points to other provinces and neighboring countries;
    Infection prevention in public places such as markets, car parks, places of worship and schools especially in Mangina;
    The vaccination ;
    Psychological and social care of the victims and their relatives;
    Psychosocial awareness;
    Installation of Ebola treatment centers in Mangina, Goma and Beni;
    Free health care in all affected health areas
    The replacement of all the equipment of the Mangina Hospital.

It should be noted that the coordination of this response was made under the leadership of the Government whose Ministry of Public Health has implemented a mixed strategy with concentric circles around the epicenter not to disperse the forces and teams in advance for investigations.

The response budget amounts to US $ 43 million, respectively, with a balance of US $ 13 million allocated prior to stabilization after the response to the previous epidemic in Ecuador and the Government’s own funds through the PDSS program financed by the World Bank and partners (China, Japan, DIFID, USAID, Canada), which allowed for no funding gap.

The response has benefited from the expertise of the Center of Deseases Control (CDC) of Atlanta (USA) which some experts collaborated with their Congolese counterparts. It has received technical and logistical support from Monusco, the United Nations system, WHO, UNICEF, OCHA and Alima. The FARDC through its Military Rapid Reaction Unit (UMIR) present in Beni and the Congolese National Police have helped to secure all these operations in these areas where there are still some negative forces.

As for the epidemiological situation, out of 102 reported cases, 75 cases were confirmed with 27 probable ones. Of a total of 59 deaths, 27 probable and 32 confirmed.

41 people were hospitalized, 33 confirmed mainly in Mangina.

Of 308 analyzes, 91 were positive.

Vaccination, a critical element in breaking the chain of contamination, is underway.

The Minister of Public Health said that 7,000 vaccines have been acquired and transported locally and more than 2,000 people have already been vaccinated.

5 experimental therapeutic molecules approved by the ethical and scientific committees, in particular the mAb 114 developed by the Congolese professor Muyembe of the INRB in collaboration with the NAH in the United States, were used. 10 patients have already received it and are doing well.

After debate and deliberation, the Government approved these measures. In addition, on the proposal of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, it has decided to initiate an awareness and prevention campaign against the Ebola virus epidemic in all the transport corridors of the African Region, including DR Congo. is part as well as the establishment of mechanisms for monitoring, protection, monitoring and evaluation with related services through CEPCOR, a specialized structure of the Government for the implementation of programs and management of Transport Corridors at African level .

Started at 10 am, the meeting of the Council of Ministers ended around 12 o’clock.

Lambert MENDE OMALANGA