Young people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are leading the charge to protect their communities in response to the upsurge of mpox, which has been declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO). Since the beginning of the year, nearly 9,000 children have contracted mpox, over half of the reported cases in the country. Among the 700 deaths reported, 80 per cent were children. With cases of a new, more deadly variant on the rise, especially among children, UNICEF has mobilized its network of U-Reporters to tackle the crisis head-on.
In the DRC, UNICEF is supporting the government’s mpox response in a number of areas. Support includes communicating about risks and addressing stigma in communities; medical and nutritional care; supplying hygiene materials and improving infection prevention and control measures in schools and hospitals; transport and logistics related to the mpox vaccines; offering mental health support to children and caregivers; and ensuring continued access to essential services.
UNICEF’s approach to communicating with communities relies heavily on young leaders like Mukulikire, 21, a member of U-Report in the city of Kalemie. Mukulikire has been visiting busy markets, explaining the transmission and prevention of mpox to traders and shoppers. “My mission as a member of the U-Report DRC community is to get involved in all actions that contribute to the well-being of my community and to saving lives. As a U-Reporter, I will not give up this task because nothing is more important than saving lives,” she declared with passion, as she handed out informational flyers and demonstrated proper hygiene practices.