Boston

The DRC government is posing a condition in order to support in the Ebola response in Goma outbreak: AFC must withdraw from Goma before any assistance. Provided for the Ebola response is deeply concerning. This position appears less humanitarian and more political. One must ask: do they genuinely care about the population of Goma, or are they simply seizing an opportunity to score political points? There are areas in life that should never be politicized, and public health is one of them. When people’s lives are at risk, the priority should be saving lives, containing the outbreak, and protecting the population — not advancing political agendas. For the past 14 months, the people of Goma have lived without access to banking services, one of the main sources of their hardship, yet Kinshasa has largely turned a blind eye to their suffering. That reality makes this latest stance even more disappointing. I never imagined our government would sink this low. We must elevate the debate because the world is watching, and our dignity is at stake. Any responsible and mature leadership should focus on one thing above all else: containing this outbreak before it escalates beyond control and becomes a regional or global pandemic. The good news is that Ebola in Goma remains under control. The AFC leadership is working diligently and responsibly to contain the disease and prevent further spread. This is the kind of focus and commitment the population deserves at this critical moment