Officials warn that Congo must increase awareness about mpox and the availability of vaccines. Cris Kacita, head of the country’s mpox response team, stated that the vaccination campaign, which began this month in the heavily affected eastern region, will take longer than the initially planned 10 days.
At a vaccination site in North Kivu province, a Reuters reporter observed that many locals were either unaware of or skeptical about the vaccines. Kacita noted that while some awareness efforts have been made, they have been insufficient. “These are gaps that need to be filled,” he told Reuters.
During a visit to a vaccination site in Kibati, where many displaced people live, residents reported a lack of information regarding the vaccination efforts. Simon Ngagijimana Chui, the camp chief, said, “I know nothing about this vaccine. No one has come to educate me about any vaccination against mpox.”
The vaccination campaign is a critical step in controlling the outbreak, which has spread from its epicenter in Congo to several other African nations this year. However, the initial phase of the campaign has been limited due to a shortage of vaccines, with only 265,000 doses available for a population of around 100 million.
To address the information gap, health workers in Kibati have enlisted local advocates who have been vaccinated and are trusted by the community. One such advocate, 22-year-old Benire Furahini Buchaguzi, uses a loudspeaker to share her message. “I bring my vaccination certificate to the community to show them that I have received my vaccine and to encourage them,” she said.
Mpox spreads through close contact and typically presents with flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. While usually mild, it can be fatal. Florence Frebo Uwimana, a young mother who heard Buchaguzi speak, expressed concern. “They just tell us to quickly bring anyone showing symptoms to the hospital, but no one talks to us about the vaccine,” she said.
According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Africa has reported over 42,400 suspected and confirmed mpox cases and 1,100 deaths since the start of 2024, with the majority occurring in Congo. In Goma, the provincial capital, healthcare workers fear that the lack of information may hinder efforts to control the disease. Dr. Hassan Amisi Djuma, a public health expert in Goma, stated, “If the population hasn’t been informed about a disease, the risk is it may spread among them.”
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