World Bank adds $93 million to combat Ebola in Congo
The World Bank announced additional funding of $93 million to combat the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries, as the disease continues to spread and strain health services in hard-to-reach areas. The support is divided between $80 million for the response inside Congo and $13 million for regional preparedness and coordination, bringing the group's total emergency response commitments to $426.6 million.
The World Bank announced additional funding of $93 million to strengthen the fight against the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries, as the disease continues to spread and strain health services in hard-to-reach areas. The new support is divided between $80 million for the response inside Congo and $13 million for regional preparedness and coordination. The announcement raises the group's total emergency response commitments to $426.6 million, including grants and new and existing concessional financing. According to Reuters, citing government data, the funding comes as transmission continues in multiple hotspots within Congo. The agency reported that the outbreak, declared in May and linked to the Bundibugyo virus, has become the largest and deadliest in the country's history, surpassing the 2018-2020 epidemic. The Bank said national funding will strengthen disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, patient care, infection prevention in health facilities, and communication with affected communities. It also includes maintaining maternal and child health services in Ituri, the epicenter of the outbreak, to ensure the emergency does not disrupt basic care for women and newborns. Regional funding aims to enhance preparedness and response in 11 countries, supporting coordination through regional institutions, strengthening surveillance systems, laboratories, and health workforce development. It also includes digital health screening at key entry points to reduce the risk of cross-border transmission.