Healthcare workers in DRC 'urgently' await arrival of mpox vaccines

Despite delivery of 200,000 vaccines to the capital they have yet to be distributed to affected areas like South Kivu

Medical staff in the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) South Kivu province are pleading for the swift arrival of mpox vaccines, as they grapple with a surge in infections, particularly among infants.

Despite the delivery of 200,000 vaccines to the capital, Kinshasa, last week, they have yet to be distributed to affected areas like South Kivu, and it could take weeks due to logistical challenges.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, has claimed over 635 lives in DRC this year. At a treatment center in South Kivu, healthcare workers report an overwhelming number of patients arriving daily, with shortages in essential medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Emmanuel Fikiri, a nurse at the clinic, expressed concerns about contracting the virus and passing it to his children, urging the government to prioritize vaccinations for frontline workers.

Transporting vaccines to rural areas, such as Kamituga and Lwiro, is complicated by poor infrastructure and the need for precise cold storage conditions.

Officials are considering using helicopters, which would increase costs in a country already burdened by economic struggles.

The outbreak has put immense strain on hospitals, with overcrowded facilities and patients sharing beds or sleeping on the floor.

Dr. Pacifique Karanzo, a physician at Lwiro community hospital, lamented the lack of resources, including clean water and sufficient PPE, as they work to care for nearly 200 patients—mostly children—compared to the usual 80.

The ongoing conflict between the DRC’s military and armed groups, including M23 rebels, is further complicating vaccination efforts.

However, local officials, like South Kivu Governor Jean-Jacques Purusi Sadiki, are optimistic that rebel groups won’t obstruct vaccine distribution, as the disease impacts both government-controlled and rebel-held areas.

Authorities plan to begin vaccinating children and individuals in close contact with infected patients in October.

While the governor remains confident in controlling the outbreak, healthcare workers continue to face immense challenges without immediate access to vaccines and adequate supplies.