The province of Ituri, located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is currently facing a worrying humanitarian situation. According to a recent report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the region is experiencing an increase in cases of measles and plague, endangering the health of the population.
The report said provincial health authorities recorded a significant increase in suspected measles cases, with more than 380 cases reported between July 3 and July 9, compared to more than 290 the previous week. This increase of almost 31% is worrying, especially since some health zones in Ituri, notably Nia-Nia, Mandima, Komanda and Nizi, are currently in the midst of an epidemic.
Response activities have been launched in the most affected areas, including Mandima and Nia-Nia, with the support of organizations such as Médecins Sans Frontières, UNICEF and Save the Children International. However, some health zones are reporting a lack of response due to the outbreak.
Besides measles, Ituri province is also facing suspected cases of plague. Between July 3 and July 9, five suspected cases, including two deaths, were reported in the Rethy health zone. This situation is all the more alarming as the health zone of Rethy suffers from a lack of public health interventions due to the precarious security situation.
Humanitarian partners are mobilized to provide assistance to the population, but access remains limited in some areas due to insecurity and violence. Nevertheless, more than 53,000 vulnerable people benefit from free primary health care in the territories of Mahagi and Mambasa.
It is essential that measures are taken quickly to contain the spread of these diseases and ensure access to health care for all inhabitants of the province of Ituri. Health authorities and humanitarian partners must work together to implement effective prevention and response strategies, while ensuring the safety of teams in the field.
The population of Ituri deserves to receive adequate and quality assistance to deal with this humanitarian crisis. It is time for the international community to mobilize more to support the ongoing efforts and help put an end to this worrying situation