Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Ituri province have launched an appeal to sex workers to integrate into Ebola prevention and response activities. The call was made by a sexologist, Dr. Daniel Mugisa, in Bunia on September 27, 2026. Dr. Mugisa emphasized the need for the government to strengthen awareness-raising efforts among sex workers on Ebola prevention measures.
According to Dr. Mugisa, sex workers are an integral part of the community and should have access to reliable information on Ebola risks and prevention methods. He recommended that health services and community organizations strengthen outreach efforts to facilitate orientation towards health structures and access to care while respecting confidentiality and dignity.
Dr. Mugisa also called for improved training for health providers to ensure respectful and non-discriminatory care for sex workers. This would involve providing them with the necessary skills to offer quality services and address the specific needs of this population group. By doing so, it is hoped that sex workers will feel more comfortable seeking medical help when needed.
The sexologist encouraged sex workers to quickly consult healthcare services if they experience suspicious symptoms and not to fear seeking help. He emphasized that they are part of the community and have a crucial role to play in the response against Ebola. By working together, it is believed that the spread of the disease can be effectively contained.
Dr. Mugisa stressed that better involvement of all community components would strengthen the dissemination of prevention messages and rapid detection of suspicious situations. This would enable health officials to respond promptly and prevent further transmission of the disease. The involvement of sex workers is seen as a critical aspect of this effort.
The appeal to involve sex workers in Ebola prevention efforts is part of a broader strategy to combat the disease in the Ituri province. The province has been experiencing an outbreak of Ebola, and health officials are working to contain the spread of the disease. By engaging with sex workers and other vulnerable groups, it is hoped that the outbreak can be brought under control.
The Congolese Press Agency (ACP) reported that the call to involve sex workers in Ebola prevention efforts was made during a meeting in Bunia. The meeting was attended by health officials, community leaders, and representatives of sex worker organizations. The initiative is seen as a positive step towards addressing the Ebola outbreak in the region.
Key points
- Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Ituri province are urging sex workers to join efforts to prevent the spread of Ebola.
- Sex workers are being encouraged to quickly consult healthcare services if they experience suspicious symptoms and not to fear seeking help.
- Better involvement of all community components, including sex workers, is seen as crucial to strengthening the dissemination of prevention messages and rapid detection of suspicious situations.
