Congo’s Health Ministry kicked off a vaccination campaign against the mpox epidemic on Saturday in the cities of Bukavu and Goma.
“We decided to start the campaign in Goma because the people there have already endured so much from both the war and mpox. They are our strength, and it’s important that they receive help first,” said Health Minister Roger Kamba.
Kamba highlighted that Congo has more than 30,000 mpox cases, with children under the age of 5 being hit the hardest. Tragically, around 70% of these young patients have died from the disease.
The Department of Infectious Diseases noted that the vaccination drive is focused on high-risk groups, such as healthcare workers, sex workers, and those suspected of being infected.
“This campaign mainly targets healthcare workers,” said Cris Kasita, director of the Congo Department of Infection Prevention (PEV), in an interview with Anadolu. “We will also be vaccinating sex workers as part of our efforts to eradicate this epidemic.”
Congo has received 265,000 vaccine doses donated by the EU and the US, and is awaiting an additional 3 million doses from Japan. According to the World Health Organization and Congo’s Health Ministry, the country has seen over 30,000 mpox cases and 920 related deaths since the start of 2024.
The vaccination rollout was initially planned for last Wednesday but was postponed due to logistical challenges.
