Democratic Republic of Congo News

Nearly 23 million people will be vaccinated against polio in the DR Congo

Kinshasa (April 28, 2011). By organizing the National Immunization Days (NIDs) which occurs at the same time with the African Immunization Week (VAS), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) took another opportunity to eradicate polio throughout its territory, thanks to a synchronized campaign with its two neighboring countries: Angola and Congo.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Ministry of Public Health in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners officially launched the African Vaccination Week (AVW) on Monday 22 April 2012 under the theme: “Save lives. Prevent disabilities. Vaccinate”.

The launching programme was held in ‘Hotel le Fleuve’ in Kinshasa. The press was strongly represented; more than 15 TV Channels, Radio and written press attended the launch as well as various national deputies and WR.

In DRC there was long experience with Ebola – this was the seventh outbreak of the disease here. The country had the knowledge and the people needed to stop an outbreak – plus strong technical assistance and support from WHO.

Kinshasa, 17 August - A yellow fever preventive mass vaccination campaign was launched on Tuesday in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by the Minister of Health Dr Felix Kabange Numbi. The vaccination will cover more than 10.5 million people in 32 health zones in Kinshasa province and an additional 15 health zones bordering Angola.

Makanza (Equateur), 30 August 2016. To halt the spread of epidemic cholera outbreaks in Equateur province, the local authorities are getting support from WHO in their efforts to control the present epidemic in health districts where a large number of cholera cases have been recorded in the last few weeks.

DRC has, from early 2016 to September, registered a cumulative total of 18.252 suspected cholera cases, of which 516 deaths (fatality rate of 2.8%) throughout the country, particularly in the Equateur, Kinshasa, Upper-Lomami, Upper-Katanga, Maï-Ndombe, Mongala, North-Kivu, Tshopo and South-Kivu Provinces. WHO and its partners are supporting the efforts of the Ministry of Health (MOH) to quickly bring the epidemic under control.

Kinshasa, 28 April 2011 -- The Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Mr. Adolphe Muzito, today in Kinshasa launched, the first African Vaccination Week and Polio National Immunization Days in DRC. Urging everyone to get immunized, he said, “Vaccination provides protection. The vaccines are available. We should go for vaccination without hesitation”.