Published on: 2026-05-28
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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The Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made an emotional appeal to the residents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, especially to the population of the Ituri province, where currently more than 90 percent of all cases of the new Ebola outbreak are concentrated. In the message published by WHO, he emphasized that he speaks not as an official, but as a person who knows the region and its people well.
Tedros recalled that he personally visited North Kivu fourteen times during the 2018–2020 outbreak, met with families of the deceased, medical workers, and local community leaders. At that time, the residents gave him a name emphasizing belonging to the community: “When I told them I was the firstborn in the family, they gave me the name Doctor Paluku. I wear this name with pride. This is not just a name, it is a connecting link.”
One of the key moments of the appeal was a direct call to all armed groups in the region: “Please declare a ceasefire. Even for a short time. At least to allow medical workers to pass.”
The head of WHO emphasized that no disagreements can justify creating obstacles to saving lives.
He again reminded that the current outbreak is caused by a virus for which there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment methods yet. The head of the WHO emphasized that early medical assistance significantly increases survival chances.
Tedros separately addressed the young residents of Ituri, calling them “the future of the province and the whole country,” and urged spreading accurate information about Ebola in order to “dispel fear and break the silence.”
The WHO Director-General confirmed that he will soon personally visit the DR Congo: “I will not deal with this problem from the comfort of an office far away.”
He emphasized that the WHO teams are already working on the ground and will remain in Ituri as long as needed.
At the conclusion, Tedros addressed the residents of Ituri as “brothers and sisters,” noting their resilience and courage: “We will definitely manage… Thanks to you.”
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