Statement on the Ebola Situation in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda

Statement on the Ebola Situation in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda

Statement on the Ebola Situation in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda

19 May 2026

We are closely monitoring reports regarding the Ebola outbreak currently affecting parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

We understand that the similarity in country names can understandably cause confusion. Our organisation operates in the neighbouring Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), which is a separate country from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where the outbreak has been reported.

Our hospital site in Ouesso, Republic of Congo, is located approximately 3,500 kilometres from the epicentre of the outbreak. There are currently no reported cases in our country of operation, and our teams, staff, volunteers, and visitors remain safe and unaffected.

However, we take the situation extremely seriously, particularly given the vulnerability of healthcare infrastructure across parts of Central Africa and the potential risks associated with regional travel and cross-border movement.

As a precautionary measure, we are reinforcing health and safety protocols across our operations, including:

• Enhanced staff training and awareness around infection prevention and control
• Reinforced hygiene, screening, and security procedures at project sites
• Ongoing monitoring of guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and regional health authorities
• Additional preparedness measures for staff, volunteers, and international visitors arriving in-country

Our organisation also has previous experience responding to regional public health threats and emergency situations, and we have robust contingency and response protocols already in place.

The safety of our staff, local communities, volunteers, and visitors remains our highest priority. We will continue to monitor developments carefully and adapt our measures as needed.

We extend our solidarity and support to the healthcare workers and communities currently responding to the outbreak in the DRC and Uganda.

For any questions regarding travel, volunteering, or operational safety, please contact us directly.