'Sworn oath to care for sick' - Tributes to bravery pour in after Ebola death of frontline medic in eastern DRC

"A young doctor who contracted Ebola while treating an infected patient was buried in Bunia under strict sanitary protocols, as fears grow over the safety of frontline healthcare workers battling the outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Footage shows Red Cross teams and health officials in protective hazmat suits carrying the coffin, spraying disinfectant and conducting a secure burial ceremony attended by grieving relatives, colleagues and local residents. The doctor, who had been treating Ebola patients in Ituri province, died after becoming infected while providing medical care, according to local health authorities. “We have just lost this young man,” said Bernard Bebwa, the victim’s uncle. “He was a very humble, gentle and calm person who had no problems with anyone. He helped the family immensely through the care he provided.” “We are human… this hurts us deeply,” said Robert Umino, president of the Ituri Medical Association. “A colleague who had sworn an oath to care for the sick has died himself.” He added that doctors remain fearful of further infections but continue working despite the risks. “We are seriously afraid because we are all called upon to care for the sick,” he said. “But we cannot abandon the sick.” The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo began in April 2026 in Ituri province, close to the border with Uganda. Health authorities have reported more than 750 suspected cases and at least 177 suspected Ebola-related deaths since the outbreak was declared. Uganda has since introduced tighter border controls and travel restrictions amid concerns over cross-border transmission linked to trade and population movement between the two countries. The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no approved vaccine currently exists. The World Health Organisation recently classified the situation as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, raising the national risk assessment for the DRC to very high and the regional risk level to high."

Go to News Site