Mbanza Kongo – Population living in the bordering Mbanza Kongo city (Zaire) with Central Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were taught on Tuesday about preventive measures to avoid monkeypox epidemic that currently hit the neighboring country.
The awareness campaign held under the initiative of the Angolan Women's Organization (OMA) targeted vendors at the Luvo border market, 60 kilometers north of the Mbanza Kongo city.
The campaign led by the provincial secretary of this ruling MPLA women's organization, Isabel Deviya Luvenga, included around 50 women who toured the market, passing on messages about the symptoms and prevention measures of this disease that is causing thousands of deaths in the neighboring DRC.
Speaking to the press, the OMA leader said that the choice of Luvo commune to host the opening ceremony of this campaign, which will be extended to all the municipalities bordering the DRC, was due to the fact that the region is one of the main entry and exit of nationals and foreigners.
Isabel Deviya Luvenga expressed concern about the lack of information among the population living in this border area about the epidemic hitting the neighboring country.
Zaire province shares a 310-kilometre border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Since the first cases of the disease appeared in early 2024, the DRC has recorded more than 500 deaths by monkeypox, with more than 15,000 reported cases. DMN/JL/DAN/AMP
