While waiting for the delivery of vaccines against MPOX, which will take place on Thursday, humanitarians are raising awareness among the population about the risks of contamination, while the number of cases is increasing.
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The Democratic Republic of Congo is the country most affected by the MPOX epidemic. Since the beginning of the year, nearly 20,000 suspected cases have been reported there, and more than 600 deaths. The first delivery of MPOX vaccines is expected on Thursday, September 5. The country is due to receive a total of 200,000 doses this week. Around the city of Goma, health promotion workers are raising awareness in displaced persons camps, where there is concern about the spread of the disease.
Louise is a health promoter for the NGO Medair. Megaphone in hand, she puts all her energy into the race against time to stop the mpox epidemic in the DRC. “I came to the community to raise awareness about the epidemic, the symptoms presented by people who are already infected and the barrier measures.”
The outbreak in eastern Congo comes amid a severe humanitarian crisis. Around Goma, hundreds of thousands of families who have fled war are in overcrowded, unsanitary camps.
“In this household, there are ten people living together in a small house, describes Louise. The living conditions are really unhealthy. Even getting soap is a problem. Hygiene conditions are really very complicated.”
