A new Ebola treatment center with a capacity of 80 beds was inaugurated on September 21, 2026, in Butembo, North Kivu province, in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The center was opened by the provincial government with the support of Uganda. The center is equipped with a mobile laboratory and will work in collaboration with the Congolese government and Ugandan health officials.
The center was built in just 18 days and is located in the concession of the Institut Technique Agricole et Vétérinaire (ITAV) Butembo. The laboratory integrated into the center will enable health officials to receive and analyze samples, with results available within six hours. The center is expected to provide an effective response to the Ebola outbreak in the region.
According to Prisca Luanda, coordinator of the provincial governor's health team, the center will be staffed by a team of healthcare workers who will work in collaboration with Congolese health officials. The laboratory will also cooperate with the Institut National des Recherches Biomédicales (INRB). Luanda expressed her gratitude to the Ugandan government for its support in the construction of the center.
Dr. Gaston Lubambo, chief medical officer of the provincial health division, said that the need for a new treatment center had been expressed due to the high occupancy rate of existing centers. He stated that the overall occupancy rate of beds in other treatment centers was 98%, leaving little room for new patients. The new center is expected to help alleviate this pressure.
Dr. Ronald Baginture, representative of the Ugandan Minister of Health, expressed his hope that the center would continue to function normally even after the Ugandan healthcare workers leave. He also highlighted the importance of the integrated laboratory, which will enable rapid testing and response to the outbreak.
The new Ebola treatment center is a significant development in the fight against the disease in the region. The center will provide much-needed care and treatment to patients affected by the Ebola outbreak. The support of Uganda and other international partners has been crucial in the construction and equipping of the center.
The Ebola outbreak in the region has been a major concern, with 307 confirmed cases and 150 deaths reported in the Haut-Uélé province. The opening of the new treatment center is a welcome development in the efforts to contain and respond to the outbreak. The center is expected to play a critical role in the response efforts, and its impact will be closely monitored.
Key points
- The new Ebola treatment center has a capacity of 80 beds and was built with the support of Uganda.
- The center is equipped with a mobile laboratory that can provide results within six hours.
- The center is expected to help alleviate the pressure on existing treatment centers, which have an occupancy rate of 98%.
