Sud-Kivu: Mpox prevention kits distributed to health facilities in Kamanyola

Uvira, July 21^st, 2025 (CPA).- Mpox (monkey pox) prevention kits donated by the Red Cross have been handed over on Sunday at a ceremony to health facilities in Kamanyola in Walungu territory, in Sud-Kivu, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), CPA has learned from a health source. « As part of the Monkey pox Emergency Project (MPOX), the Red Cross has officially handed over health kits to the five health areas of Kamanyola, in Walungu territory, with a view to strengthening the protection of health workers against this contagious disease. This action is part of an initiative carried out in collaboration with the French Red Cross and funded by the Canadian Red Cross », has indicated Gloire Mushayuma, head of the Mpox response project in Kamanyola. « Each facility has received a set of megaphones, sprays, thermo-flashes, hand-washing devices, latex gloves, medical gowns, chlorine and other hygiene materials. This equipment is aimed at improving measures to prevent and control Wash infections », he has added. Mr Mushayuma has said that ‘DRC Red Cross came to Kamanyola to help reduce the number of cases of Mpox in the Nyangezi health zone, by supporting local communities through door-to-door awareness campaigns, health facilities and active case-finding’. The ‘Saint Joseph’ hospital in Kamanyola, which treats Mpox patients, has received the donation in support of local health facilities. Beneficiaries of the donation have expressed their appreciation to the Congolese government for facilitating access to the kits. From the first week of 2024 to the 27^th week of 2025 (June 30^th to July 6^th), 90,914 suspected cases of Mpox have been investigated, including 26,613 laboratory-confirmed cases and 603. 338 doses of vaccine have been administered. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Mpox virus is an infectious disease caused by an ‘orthopoxvirus’ characterised by a skin rash that may be isolated or preceded or accompanied by fever or lymph nodes. ACP/