By David Akinmola
THE African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has approved $13 million in emergency grants to support the containment of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda and South Sudan, as health authorities intensify efforts to prevent the disease from spreading across the region.
The intervention comes as the latest Ebola outbreak, first declared by the DRC on May 15, 2026, continues to spread beyond its epicentre in Ituri Province to North Kivu and South Kivu, raising fresh concerns over regional health security and the resilience of healthcare systems in Central and East Africa.
According to the AfDB, the funding package comprises a $10 million grant from reallocated resources under its DRC portfolio, to be implemented through the World Health Organisation (WHO), and an additional $3 million grant under the Bank’s Multi-Country Emergency Assistance Project for the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan, which will be executed by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Of the total amount, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicentre of the outbreak, will receive $11 million, while Uganda and South Sudan will each receive $1 million to strengthen surveillance and emergency response measures.
The Bank said the funds would support the implementation of its Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak Response Plan, aimed at containing the outbreak, reducing deaths and limiting transmission in the most affected and vulnerable communities.
Key interventions include strengthening early case detection and diagnosis, epidemiological surveillance, laboratory capacity, community engagement, public awareness campaigns and cross-border coordination among the affected countries.
Deputy Director-General for Central Africa and Country Manager for the DRC at the African Development Bank Group, Mohamed Cherif, said the emergency support demonstrates the Bank’s commitment to protecting lives and strengthening health systems across the region.
“This emergency support reflects the African Development Bank Group’s commitment to supporting the Democratic Republic of Congo and countries in the region in protecting human lives, strengthening the resilience of health systems and preventing the spread of the epidemic.
“Through this support, the Bank Group reaffirms its commitment to standing by regional member countries in times of crisis,” he said.
Health experts said the latest outbreak poses a significant public health challenge because it is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
They noted that the absence of an approved vaccine heightens the need for aggressive surveillance, rapid isolation of suspected cases, effective contact tracing and sustained community sensitisation to curb transmission.
Public health analysts also stressed that the outbreak underscores the importance of strengthening disease surveillance systems and regional collaboration, particularly in border communities where population movement could accelerate cross-border transmission.
According to them, investments in emergency preparedness, laboratory infrastructure and healthcare workforce capacity are essential to improving Africa’s ability to respond to infectious disease outbreaks and minimise their socio-economic impact.
They added that multilateral support from institutions such as the AfDB, WHO and Africa CDC would remain critical in helping affected countries mobilise resources, strengthen health systems and prevent future epidemics from escalating into wider regional health emergencies.
