DRC: Health Minister Resigns over Ebola Response

The head of the health ministry in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has resigned in protest over the government’s response to the Ebola outbreak in the country’s eastern regions.

Last Wednesday, 17 July, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the epidemic of the disease – which has killed more than 1 700 citizens after emerging in August last year – an international health emergency.

According to reports, Oly Ilunga Kalenga – who served as the DRC’s health minister since 2016 – tendered his resignation on Monday, 22 July.

In a letter addressed to President Felix Tshisekedi, Kalenga criticised his decision to replace him as the head of the Ebola response team.

He also criticised what he deemed as “strong pressure” by outsiders on the government to roll out an experimental Ebola vaccine, emphasising that the current vaccine being administered was the only one with clinically-proven effectiveness.

According to the WHO, the current vaccine is 97% effective. More than 161 000 people in the DRC have been given it since the outbreak started a year ago.

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