🌍 Africa Steps Up on Climate Action

At the closing of the Second African Climate Summit (8–10 September, Addis Ababa, 🇪🇹), President Taye Atske-Silassie delivered a powerful call: Africa is ready to lead the global fight against climate change.

With a vision of a greener, fairer, and united continent, he urged world leaders and civil society to partner with Africa in tackling one of humanity’s greatest challenges.

👉 Watch the highlights from Addis Ababa and learn how Africa is positioning itself as a key player in global climate leadership.

#ACS2 #ClimateAction #Africa #Sustainability

Ebola Vaccination Underway in Kasai as DRC Battles 16th Outbreak Since 1976

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has launched Ebola vaccination campaign in Kasai Province, as health officials work to contain the country’s 16th outbreak of the virus since it was first identified nearly five decades ago. The World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed the campaign began this week, warning that the response will face significant challenges.

The outbreak, declared by the Ministry of Health earlier this month, has already prompted an urgent deployment of vaccines and medical teams to the affected communities. The initial focus is on frontline health workers, people who came into direct contact with confirmed cases, and their contacts — part of a “ring vaccination” strategy that proved effective in past crises.

“Every outbreak of Ebola in the DRC presents unique challenges, from remote geography to fragile infrastructure and community mistrust,” WHO officials said. “Swift vaccination is essential to break chains of transmission and protect those at highest risk.”

The Ebola virus, which causes severe haemorrhagic fever, was first discovered in the DR Congo (then Zaire) in 1976 near the Ebola River. Since then, the country has suffered repeated flare-ups, including a major outbreak in 2018–2020 that killed more than 2,200 people in the eastern provinces.

Kasai, in central DR Congo, poses particular logistical hurdles for responders, with poor road networks and limited health facilities complicating the rapid delivery of vaccines and medical care. International partners, including WHO, UNICEF, and Médecins Sans Frontières, are providing technical and logistical support.

Community engagement is also a key priority. Past outbreaks have shown that resistance to vaccination and treatment can fuel the spread of the disease. Local health authorities are therefore working with religious leaders, teachers, and community groups to raise awareness and counter misinformation.

While vaccination is underway, health experts warn that the fight to contain the outbreak is far from over. In addition to vaccination, tracing contacts, reinforcing infection prevention in hospitals, and ensuring safe burials are critical components of the response.

Ebola has no known cure, but early treatment and the use of effective vaccines have dramatically improved survival rates in recent years. For now, health officials are urging vigilance and international solidarity to ensure the latest outbreak does not escalate into a wider public health emergency.