| Project Detail |
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with its 2345,000 km², is the second largest country in Africa. The country is endowed with immense natural resource potential and plays a vital role in climate preservation. Unfortunately, the DRC is undergoing uncontrolled deforestation associated with climate change, leading to changes in wildlife habitat. The alarming figures associated with the significant progression and lethality of this Mpox epidemic in the DRC led the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare, followed by the World Health Organization (WHO), to declare it a global health emergency. On August 14, 2024, the WHO Director-General declared Mpox a public health event of international concern. Between week 1 and week 43 (S1-S43) 2024, epidemiological follow-up (appendix 2) showed a cumulative total of 38185 suspected cases, 29574 laboratory-tested cases, of which 8607 were confirmed positive, and 1049 notified deaths, representing a case-fatality rate of 2.7% among suspects. Among suspected cases. Children2 between the ages of 0 and 15 accounted for 63% of suspected cases and 80% of deaths. Mortality was four times higher in children under one year of age than in those over 15. Project Objectives The aim of this proposal is to help stop the spread of the Mpox epidemic and reduce epidemic-related mortality and morbidity in Equateur province. The aim is to provide a direct and immediate response to the health emergency, in support of the efforts of the Congolese government and its partners. The DRCs healthcare system is currently facing enormous challenges, the main ones being poor coverage of health infrastructures, inadequate and obsolete equipment, a lack of qualified human resources and insufficient funding. Despite the above, health problems intersect with socio-political issues (armed conflicts, population movements). Beneficiaries The Bank will focus on the populations of the target province of Equateur through the most at-risk groups, including (i) children aged 1 to 5 in the affected areas;(ii) front-line healthcare staff in the affected areas;(iii) populations most affected by HIV and other exposed groups (veterinarians, hunters, eco-guards, people trading in game in the affected health zones and traveling traders, women). |
