The Ministry of Health has issued a warning about the alarming number of abductions taking place in the midst of the conflict between the M23 rebels and the AFC in the region of Goma, located in the North Kivu province. This announcement was made during a meeting to present the latest epidemiological situation in Mpox, in the eastern part of the country. A total of 116 individuals, including 46 wounded and 70 caregivers, were abducted from the Ndosho hospital, as well as 38 wounded individuals from the Heal Africa center. Sadly, only 20 civilians have been released thus far.
Dieudonné Mwamba, the Director General of the National Institute of Public Health, expressed his concern, stating that more than 28 patients were taken from hospitals in Goma by armed groups, leaving many others in a state of fear and prompting them to flee the medical facilities where they were receiving care.
Moving on to the epidemiological situation in Mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Ministry of Health reported that during the 9th week of the year 2025, there were 2,138 suspected cases recorded, resulting in 23 deaths among these cases. The positive test rate was 178 confirmed cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 15,977, with 514,660 individuals having received the first dose of the vaccine.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Health also highlighted the destruction of 6 treatment centers for Mpox, including Lushagala 1, Lushagala 2, Rusayo 3, CH Charles Bisengimana, Mugunga, and Munigi. Twenty-one other health zones have been affected, with Rutshuru being the latest health zone to be impacted.
Recent data spanning from the 22nd week of 2024 to the 9th week of 2025 reveals that the Mpox epidemic has resulted in 704 cases in Karisimbi, 492 cases in Nyiragongo, 338 cases in Goma, 49 cases in Mutwanga, 32 cases in Kirotshe, 31 cases in Katoyi, and 1 case in Rutshuru. In terms of cholera, Nyiragongo reported 33 cases, Goma had 141 cases, and Kirotshe recorded no deaths.
The clashes between the DRC armed forces and the M23 rebels have led to a total of 5,588 wounded individuals, with no reported deaths occurring within hospitals. The overall death toll remains at 1,572, with 8,387 cumulative deaths, including 1,573 identified in Goma’s morgues and 6,314 bodies retrieved from the community, along with approximately 500 individuals who perished in a fire during a prison break in Goma.
In the face of such devastation, the need for immediate action and support for those affected by these crises is more critical than ever. The Ministry of Health continues to work tirelessly to provide aid and assistance to those impacted by the conflict and the resulting health crises, as the nation strives to overcome these immense challenges.