The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is set to launch a vaccination campaign in less than a week to combat the mpox outbreak in Kamituga, a mining town in the eastern province of South Kivu. However, logistical challenges in the vast country, with its limited and often deteriorating infrastructure, threaten to complicate the rollout.
Kamituga, where the most recent mpox epidemic emerged in September 2023, will be among the first areas to receive the vaccine when the campaign begins on October 2. The town is about 180 kilometers from Bukavu, the provincial capital, and is only accessible via a single, rugged road. Large trucks and taxis, packed with passengers, slowly navigate the mountainous, dirt road, crossing makeshift bridges of metal beams and wooden planks over flooded rivers.
Motorbike drivers, like Salumu Hassan, are particularly concerned about the dangers they face. “We are the first in danger because we carry customers and we do not know if they are infected,” Hassan said, noting that his only protection is his long-sleeved jacket and efforts to limit physical contact. Another driver, Daniel Ngama, echoed the fear, adding, “We are afraid.”
Official statistics estimate Kamituga’s population at 280,000, though locals believe it is closer to half a million, due to the influx of miners drawn by the town’s gold deposits. The transient population adds to the challenge of tracking the spread of mpox, said Evariste Mbayu, who oversees the detection of cases in surrounding villages.
Dr. James Wakilonga Zanguilwa from Kamituga Hospital expressed concerns that the vaccination campaign could be hampered by the constant movement of people in and out of the town from nearby regions like Bukavu, North Kivu, and even Burundi.
As the town’s nightlife flourishes with miners and sex workers, local doctors are struggling to educate the population about the risks of infection. Dr. Dally Muamba Kambaji said they lack the resources to carry out awareness campaigns. Sex workers have been among the first to spread the virus, according to health officials.
One sex worker, Nicole Mubukwa, admitted that physical distancing was hard to maintain in her line of work but noted, “Since we were hit by the epidemic, we have been cautious.” She expressed hope of being vaccinated soon.
Despite concerns, local officials are optimistic about controlling the outbreak. South Kivu Governor Jean-Jacques Purusi said, “We are in a very encouraging phase where the disease has stabilized.” Authorities have prepared a “cold room” to store vaccines, which need to be kept at minus 20 degrees Celsius, according to Dr. Claude Bahizire, a communications officer with South Kivu’s health division.
Although public confidence in vaccines has waned since the Covid-19 pandemic, a survey published in the journal Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics last year indicated growing skepticism in the region. However, people interviewed in Kamituga said they were ready to be vaccinated, offering a glimmer of hope for the success of the campaign.
