Kisangani, May 27tH, 2026 (CPA).- About thirty volunteer rescuers from the Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Tshopo branch, underwent a three-day training session in Kisangani, in the north-eastern part of the country, as part of the fight against Ebola Virus Disease, CPA learnt Wednesday from the humanitarian movement. “(…) Given the proximity between Bunia and Kisangani, we organized this training session here (…) because it was necessary to strengthen a team on the different thematic areas related to the epidemic response,” declared Dr Bob Mateso, health coordinator for the 17th Ebola epidemic at the Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of Congo. During the three-day session, the volunteer rescuers received training on the mission of the Red Cross, first aid and community-based health care, communication, community engagement and accountability, psychosocial support, community response preparedness and intervention teams, safe and dignified burials, epidemic control, diseases causing epidemics, as well as community-based surveillance to detect, alert, act and ensure follow-up.
Several practical exercises were carried out in order to correct shortcomings wherever necessary and avoid complications during field operations. “You have just been trained by a team of instructors from Kinshasa who are in transit through Kisangani on their way to Ituri due to the closure of Bunia airport, so that you may be able to respond promptly whenever Ebola Virus Disease cases occur,” said Franck Gefeu, president of the provincial committee of the Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tshopo branch. Following the training, the instructors expressed satisfaction with the sustained attention shown by the volunteer rescuers, who are now capable of responding to Ebola Virus Disease in Tshopo province. ACP/