The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo plans to conduct a large-scale awareness campaign on July 15 as part of preparations for the country's first census in over 40 years.
Before this campaign, President Félix Tshisekedi met with UNFPA representative Alain Akpadji on July 14. During this meeting, UNFPA pledged support, utilizing demographic data and digital tools for the national census under conditions described as 'very difficult.'
The Democratic Republic of Congo has received promises from international donors totaling over $200 million.
Speaking at a recent roundtable for technical and financial partners of the census, President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo characterized the event as 'an act of sovereignty, a tool for public justice, and a crucial lever for improving the effectiveness of state actions.'
President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, who chaired this roundtable, emphasized that this event goes far beyond a mere technical or administrative process. He stated that it is a moment of truth for the country, where the nation decides to know each other better in order to govern itself, plan, and transform more effectively.
The last census in the Democratic Republic of Congo took place in 1984. Since then, the country has undergone significant demographic changes, and its population is currently estimated at over 112.8 million people, nearly four times the figure from 1984.
The census is scheduled for early August and will run until 2027.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the number of Ebola victims has reached 600 people. According to data from the country's Ministry of Health, the total number of confirmed cases is 1,759.
The situation is causing growing alarm as suspicious cases are now being detected even in regions where the disease was not previously reported. Specifically, two suspected Ebola infections have been identified in the city of Kisangani, which is the center of the Tshopo province in the north of the country. One case is linked to the outbreak in Ituri province, while the other has no connection to existing hotspots.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the virus is spreading rapidly due to issues related to population migration and security. Furthermore, some treatment centers are operating at near capacity. The situation is exacerbated by a shortage of medical personnel, as doctors and nurses claim they have not received salaries for several months since the epidemic was declared. A lack of protective equipment and harsh working conditions are also sources of discontent. Officials stated that measures are being taken to address these problems.
Experts emphasized that this epidemic is associated with the 'Bundibugyo' virus strain, and currently, there is no approved vaccine or effective treatment for this pathogen. Consequently, scientists began initial clinical trials against the disease last week and intensified research aimed at containing the spread of the virus.
