- Santé
During a critical mission to Bunia, located in the Ituri province, Patrick Muyaya, the government spokesperson and Minister of Communication and Media, urged a fair and objective assessment of the efforts undertaken by Congolese authorities. This call comes amidst the ongoing Ebola virus disease epidemic affecting the eastern provinces of Ituri, Nord-Kivu, and Sud-Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Speaking at a joint press briefing on Thursday, June 18, 2026, alongside Roger Samuel Kamba, the Minister of Public Health, Hygiene, and Social Welfare, Muyaya addressed various criticisms from non-governmental organizations involved in the health response. He affirmed the government’s commitment to transparency and its openness to constructive feedback, while also emphasizing the need to acknowledge the significant progress and sacrifices made on the ground. Despite persistent challenges, he firmly rejected any alarmist rhetoric.
“I prefer not to name the criticizing NGOs. Clearly, we operate with openness and transparency. You witnessed the various speakers today, none were given specific instructions on what to say. We do not claim perfection; that is not our assertion. What we state is that we are fulfilling our responsibilities,” the government spokesperson declared.
He highlighted that the Congolese state took immediate action, mobilizing its own financial resources before receiving external assistance. Patrick Muyaya further clarified the nature of international funding, particularly funds announced by foreign partners.
“The government did not wait for partners. We have already committed 50 million USD from government funds because we believe in leading by example. All the international funding you hear about, from the American government and other partners, is not directly allocated to our government. These funds are channeled directly to NGOs,” he explained during his address.
The Minister appealed to all stakeholders involved in the Ebola response to prioritize collective responsibility, suggesting that some criticisms might not accurately reflect the realities witnessed on the front lines.
“We are all united by a common goal: to eradicate this epidemic. However, it is a different matter for those who believe this epidemic presents an opportunity to solicit additional resources. There are alternative mechanisms for advocacy,” he noted in his intervention.
He called for greater discretion from the concerned organizations in their public statements: “To diminish the sacrifices of these individuals on the ground is to undervalue their commitment. I would urge these NGOs to exercise more restraint, as a closer look at their own field operations might reveal areas for improvement.”
For his part, Minister of Public Health, Hygiene, and Social Welfare, Roger Samuel Kamba, stated his preference for focusing on tangible results rather than engaging in controversies.
“I choose to remain focused on the facts,” he asserted, before detailing the key indicators he considers vital for evaluating the response. “I prefer to monitor the number of tests conducted monthly, count the treatment centers established within a month, observe the community relays deployed, analyze daily sample counts, and track the number of individuals who have recovered,” he added.
The Minister stressed that the effectiveness of the response should be judged by concrete actions on the ground. “That is what truly matters to me. Rumors and attempts by individuals to seek self-promotion do not interest me,” he continued. Roger Samuel Kamba believes that a definitive assessment can only be made once the health crisis has concluded: “When this epidemic is over, everyone will be able to reflect on their contributions and draw their own conclusions.”
On May 17, 2026, merely two days after the official declaration of the epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified the Ebola outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus and spreading from the DRC to Uganda, as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
According to the WHO, the epidemic has shown significant geographical expansion, and its true scale may be underestimated. This challenging situation is exacerbated by high population mobility, fragile health systems, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and difficulties in accessing conflict-affected areas. Furthermore, there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment available for the Bundibugyo virus. Despite this alarming context, Congolese authorities maintain a hopeful outlook, drawing upon their extensive experience gained from successfully managing sixteen previous Ebola outbreaks in the nation.
