Ebola risk in DRC: Sant'Egidio awareness and prevention campaign with the elderly and children

On 15 July A case of Ebola was reported in Goma (DRC), the largest city in the North Kivu province and also an important transit station in the Great Lakes region, on the border with Rwanda and with an international airport connected with Nairobi and Addis Ababa. The Community of Sant’Egidio hurried to sensitize the poorest friends, the elderly of Karisimbi and the children of Mugunga, underlining the importance of respecting the particular hygiene rules prescribed to prevent the spread of an epidemic.
Hemorrhagic fever has been affecting the North Kivu region for a year now, especially the cities of Beni and Butembo, where the control and treatment of Ebola is made particularly difficult by the situation of insecurity caused by the action of armed groups that still control parts of territory.
The latest Ministry of Health bulletin talks about 1,655 people who died of Ebola and 694 recovered thanks to the vaccine. The vaccination campaign involved over 160 thousand people. The fact that Goma recorded its first case, however, raised a lot of concern, for the strategic position of the city. Fortunately, thanks to the action of the authorities urging prudence and following the health standards adopted, no other cases have been recorded. However, it will be necessary to wait until the first week of August to get feedback on other possible infections.
Also, during these days, the academic year at the Floribert Bwana Chui school ended, with 81% promotions and the first students ready to go to high school.