During a visit to Bunia in Ituri Province—the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak currently affecting the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)—European Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management, and Equality Hadja Lahbib announced an additional €5 million in funding to strengthen diagnostic capacities in the hardest-hit areas.
This new allocation will be used primarily to establish regional diagnostic centers aimed at accelerating the identification of suspected cases and improving overall epidemiological surveillance. The European official emphasized that she did not come empty-handed, noting that the new funds will enable faster and more reliable testing directly where it is needed most in the affected provinces.
This latest funding comes on top of €15 million already mobilized by the European Union to support Ebola response efforts across both the DRC and Uganda. These combined resources are intended to strengthen emergency interventions, prevention activities, and general preparedness measures in areas facing a high risk of further transmission, with a portion of the funds being channeled directly through the World Health Organization (WHO) to support critical field operations. Alongside its financial assistance, the European Union has also deployed a humanitarian air bridge that has successfully delivered nearly 100 tonnes of medical supplies, personal protective equipment, and emergency relief materials to the affected provinces in eastern DRC.
Health authorities continue to face a major challenge on the ground due to the circulation of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which no licensed vaccine is currently available. In this challenging context, early diagnosis, rigorous contact tracing, and the rapid treatment of infected individuals remain the primary tools for containing the spread of the disease. Through this latest contribution, Brussels has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Congolese authorities and humanitarian partners engaged in the fight against Ebola, with the ultimate objective of strengthening the country’s long-term public health response capacity while reducing the impact of the latest outbreak on vulnerable populations.
TE/lb/abj/APA