In brief
Staff at healthcare centers in Goma and Bukavu have lost track of hundreds of mpox patients due to escalating violence from M23 rebels, raising fears of a severe outbreak. The looting of clinics and lack of medical resources further complicate the situation, compelling health officials to urgently call for a ceasefire and humanitarian support.
More than 500 patients suffering from mpox have fled healthcare facilities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo within the last month, as conflict between the M23 rebels and the government escalates. Health authorities from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) expressed grave concern over the missing individuals, as they pose a risk of spreading the highly contagious disease, which has already claimed approximately 900 lives in the region last year.Clinics in Goma and Bukavu have fallen into chaos with recent rebel advances, prompting many patients to escape. Dr. Samuel Muhindo, overseeing a clinic in Goma, reported a devastating situation after his facility was looted and medical equipment was stolen. “We were looted. We lost equipment. It was a disaster,” he stated.Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is marked by symptoms such as lesions, headaches, and fever. This year alone, nearly 2,890 cases and 180 deaths have been reported throughout DR Congo, indicating the country’s critical role in ongoing mpox outbreaks. Dr. Muhindo noted that on January 31, 128 patients from the Mugunga health center fled during the turmoil, leaving staff unable to account for them due to destroyed records.In Goma’s Bisengimana hospital, looters also seized medicine and personal protective gear, while fires were lit outside, further jeopardizing patient safety. Health services have become untenable, particularly as the M23 rebels shut down refugee camps housing tens of thousands of displaced individuals, forcing them to leave in just 72 hours under the guise of encouraging “voluntary returns.”Dr. Nyambi Ngongo from Africa CDC is sounding alarms about a potential outbreak in areas where the displaced populace has returned. As conflict persists, the welfare of patients remains precarious. “We urgently call for a ceasefire and for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor to enable ongoing mpox interventions,” Dr. Ngongo asserted.The Africa CDC warns that the number of missing mpox patients has now increased by 100 in just a week, coinciding with escalating fighting. A concerning new mpox variant has also been identified, raising fears of increased transmissibility. The region's response capabilities have been severely hampered by ongoing violence and insufficient funding.The Mugunga facility, partially funded by UN Children's Agency (Unicef) and UK Aid Direct, has only recently reopened, albeit under extreme pressure, with multiple patients sometimes sharing a single bed. One patient, 23-year-old Sadiki Bichichi Aristide, recounted that he fled from Minova to Goma as M23 rebels advanced. After becoming ill in a displacement camp and developing symptoms, he was advised to seek help at Mugunga.Dr. Oummani Rouafi from Unicef noted that the reopening of the Mugunga facility was possible only because some supplies had been hidden from looters, contrasting sharply with numerous other health centers that were completely ransacked. The situation underscores the urgent need for coordinated humanitarian efforts and conflict resolution to mitigate the health crisis in DR Congo.
