**Democratic Republic of Congo Prepares to Launch Monkeypox Vaccination Campaign**
The Democratic Republic of Congo is preparing to launch a large-scale monkeypox (MPOX) vaccination campaign starting October 2, 2024, according to recent statements by the Minister of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare, Roger Kamba. This initiative, announced at the thirteenth meeting of the Council of Ministers, aims to contain the spread of this disease and protect the Congolese population.
Minister Kamba stressed the importance of active case finding, contact tracing, surveillance at points of entry and control, as well as community awareness in the fight against MPOX. To date, the country has received more than 265,000 doses of vaccines, with the ongoing acquisition of 3,000 doses for children from the Japanese government and the expectation of 100,000 additional doses from France. The vaccination campaign will take place from October 2 to 11, 2024 for the first round.
At the same time, the World Health Organization (WHO) has received 10 tons of medical supplies to ensure adequate care for patients with Monkeypox. The Minister stressed that medical care would be completely free. Regarding cholera, the number of cases is increasing, but the actions undertaken as part of the response plan seem to be bearing fruit, with a current case fatality rate of 0.5%.
The Congolese government, through the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Security, is focusing on awareness, prevention and treatment to stem the Monkeypox epidemic. Mobilizing resources, strengthening health infrastructure, training medical personnel and informing the public are all necessary actions to protect the population against this disease.
In a context where infectious diseases continue to threaten public health, it is imperative to strengthen health systems and promote vaccination as an essential pillar of prevention. The monkeypox vaccination campaign in the Democratic Republic of Congo illustrates the commitment of the authorities to protect the health and well-being of its citizens. With an integrated and coordinated approach, it is possible to overcome the challenges posed by infectious diseases and ensure a safer future for all.