Dear vice-chair, dear colleagues and friends,
Yesterday was truly a day for celebration – the end of the Ebola outbreak in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
This is a day we have longed to celebrate for almost 2 years.
Of course, for the families of all those who have lost their lives, it is a day that comes too late.
This outbreak is one of the most complex that WHO and our partners have ever faced. We have lost so much, but we have never lost hope.
Together, we have persisted, and together we have prevailed.
I offer my congratulations to the government and people of the DRC for this triumph;
I offer my profound gratitude to the health workers and colleagues from WHO and partners who have worked tirelessly to respond to the outbreak for almost 2 years;
I offer my thanks to donors who have supported the response;
I offer my sorrow to those who are grieving the loss of someone they love;
And I offer my commitment that WHO will continue to support the DRC to respond to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the northwest of the country; to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic; and to support the strengthening of the health system and the journey towards universal health coverage.
Because ultimately, Ebola is only one health threat that the people of North Kivu and Ituri face on a daily basis.
In the past year they have also suffered the world’s largest measles outbreak, which has killed many more people than Ebola, in less time.
Malaria is an ever-present threat. Only half of health facilities have water access. And now they’re also contending with the COVID-19 pandemic.
While we celebrate the end of this outbreak, we must resist complacency.
Previous outbreaks have taught us to expect flare-ups, so rapid response teams and support systems must remain in place.
And as we've seen with Ebola’s emergence in Equateur province, viruses do not take breaks.
However, although this outbreak has taken so much from us, we have also gained much – for the first time, we now have an effective vaccine and effective therapeutics. We can now say that Ebola is a preventable and treatable disease.
My hope is that with the tools we have, the world will never witness an Ebola outbreak on this scale again.
Thank you all for your service and advice over the past 14 months.
You have served the people of the DRC, and the people of the world, with distinction.
You have my deep gratitude, admiration and respect.
I look forward to receiving your recommendation.
Thank you.