World Bank provides $80 million to DRC for Ebola response

The World Bank has announced an additional $80 million in funding to support the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in its fight against the Ebola epidemic. This brings the total amount mobilized by the institution for the global response in the DRC to $426.6 million. The funds are intended to strengthen epidemiological surveillance, laboratory capacity, clinical patient care, and community engagement.

In addition to the national support, $13 million has been allocated to neighboring countries and regional organizations to bolster cross-border health security through the Health Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Resilience (HEPRR) program. Recent investments have already reduced detection times for suspected cases from ten days at the start of the outbreak to just one or two days as of September 2026.

On the ground in Ituri, local response efforts are expanding. A new operational laboratory has been established in Biakato to bring diagnostic capabilities closer to affected communities and accelerate decision-making. Furthermore, 150 motorcycle taxi drivers have been trained to assist in community surveillance, helping to detect early warning signs, report suspected cases via hotlines, and combat misinformation regarding the virus.