#COVID-19: DR Congo Starts Mass Vaccinations In Preparation For Third Wave
New variants of the COVID-19 virus have started surfacing in DR Congo as they enter third wave
Health authorities in the Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo are working towards a new vaccination campaign following indications that a third COVID-19 wave might hit the country.
“In Ituri, the report of the surveillance of this pandemic reveals that 11 cases of the third wave have already been notified in certain health zones bordering Uganda, a neighbouring country which is already very hard hit,” Dr Tshulo Ngandu Louis, the head of the provincial division of health in Ituri has revealed.
“The health zones so far hit are Mahagi which has reported 10 cases, one of which is being treated in the regional hospital and eight others recorded by the non-governmental organization (NGO) AVSI detected in Mahagi who are presently in the town of Bunia.”
In a communique issued on Sunday, June 6, 2021, Dr Louis declared that the “Ariwara health zone has notified one positive case which resulted in death within forty-eight hours” and called on the population to respect the barrier measures put in place.
He also called on persons eligible for vaccination to report to the various centres and get themselves vaccinated.
“I demand that eligible persons prepare themselves for vaccination against the COVID-19 that will begin in the next few days. It is better to prevent than to cure. Vaccination remains the efficacious means to protect the population and our economy,” Dr Louis declared.
Meanwhile, Dr Jean Jacques Mbungani, the DR Congo Minister of Public Health and Prevention, had on Thursday June, 3, 2021 announced a third wave of the pandemic with Kinshasa, the capital as the epicentre.
The minister said the new wave involves imported cases of new variants of the pandemic and called for a tightening of the barrier measures, noting with dismay that the populations have lowered their guard against the COVID-19.
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