AGP Executive Report

Ebola Response Hits a New Gear: WHO says the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, with cases and deaths rising fast and containment made harder by violence and insecurity—plus no approved vaccine or targeted treatment for this rare strain. Sierra Leone Health Watch: As the region braces, Sierra Leone is also pushing for stronger pandemic financing at WHA79, arguing preparedness must be funded before crises explode. Migration Pressure on Health Systems: Sierra Leone received its latest US deportation flight—nine migrants from Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea and Senegal—described as traumatised after detention; they’ll be housed in a hotel while authorities coordinate returns. Governance & Accountability: Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission highlights open governance gains at OGP Week, stressing citizen access to government work. Regional Security: ECOWAS talks in Abuja keep spotlighting cross-border cooperation to tackle terrorism and border crimes. Global Health Politics: WHO members also noted Argentina’s withdrawal letter, signaling shifting support for international health bodies.

Ebola Alert in DRC: WHO says the new Ebola emergency in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is “particularly worrying,” with suspected deaths and cases rising fast and the outbreak driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain—currently with no licensed vaccine or targeted treatment—so health teams are racing on surveillance, contact tracing, and lab testing. Health Funding Push: Sierra Leone’s Health Minister Dr. Austin Demby urged fair, rapid pandemic financing at WHA79, pointing to the need for strong everyday health systems and warning that fuel-price shocks and supply uncertainty can hit preparedness. Nutrition Support: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pledged $25m to UNICEF’s Child Nutrition Fund, matched to $50m total, with Sierra Leone included. Deportations & Care: Sierra Leone received nine migrants deported from the US under Trump’s crackdown; officials say they’re traumatised and will be housed while returns are arranged. Regional Security: ECOWAS members, including Sierra Leone, are pushing tighter cross-border cooperation to tackle border crimes and terrorism. Local Health Integrity: Makeni Regional Hospital launched an internal probe after allegations of nurses demanding petty payments from patients’ relatives.

Ebola Alert: The WHO says suspected Ebola in DR Congo and Uganda has surged to about 600 cases and 139 suspected deaths, with the rare Bundibugyo strain driving the outbreak—no vaccine or targeted treatment—so health authorities are being urged to tighten surveillance at major entry points. Child Protection: World Vision warns children in DR Congo are at grave risk as the outbreak spreads in Ituri, where displacement, overcrowding, and limited healthcare make transmission control harder. Sierra Leone Preparedness & Funding: Sierra Leone’s Health Minister Dr. Austin Demby pushed for faster, fair pandemic financing at WHA79, stressing that preparedness must be built on everyday health systems and domestic funding. Regional Security & Trade: ECOWAS is deepening cross-border cooperation, while Nigeria says it will help operationalise the AU maritime task force for the Gulf of Guinea—countries including Sierra Leone are listed among early participants. Nutrition Boost: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pledged $25M to UNICEF’s Child Nutrition Fund, matched to $50M total, with support reaching Sierra Leone. Local Health Integrity: Makeni Regional Hospital launched an internal probe after allegations of nurses demanding petty payments from patients’ relatives.

Ebola Emergency Escalates: WHO says the DRC’s rare Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak has reached about 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths, with health facilities in eastern provinces overwhelmed and the situation declared a public health emergency of international concern. Cross-Border Alarm: Two confirmed cases and a death have been reported in Uganda, while experts warn the outbreak may have been spreading for weeks undetected. Sierra Leone Migration Pressure: Sierra Leone received nine US-deported migrants this week under ECOWAS-linked third-country arrangements, while Ghana announced a support package for 300 evacuees from South Africa after xenophobic attacks. Health System Focus: Sierra Leone’s Makeni Hospital launched an internal probe into allegations of nurses demanding money from patients’ relatives. Nutrition Boost: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pledged $25m to UNICEF’s child nutrition fund, including support for Sierra Leone.

Ebola Alarm in Congo: The WHO has declared the Congo outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern as deaths in eastern DRC climbed to 131 and suspected cases passed 513, with the rare Bundibugyo strain and no targeted vaccine or treatment yet; fears are rising that the virus spread for weeks undetected amid conflict and displacement. Sierra Leone Health Focus: In Makeni, hospital management launched an internal probe after allegations that some nurses demanded small payments from patients’ relatives. Child Nutrition Boost: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pledged $25 million to UNICEF’s Child Nutrition Fund, matching a 2025 gift to support nutrition for mothers and children, including programs in Sierra Leone. Deportations Continue: Sierra Leone received nine migrants deported from the U.S. under the Trump crackdown, with authorities saying they will be housed temporarily and expected to return home within two weeks. Maternal Safety: A Sierra Leone study highlights a simple screening approach to flag bleeding and sepsis risk after childbirth early enough to save mothers.

Ebola Alert Escalates: The WHO has declared the fast-growing Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern as deaths climb to about 131 and suspected cases pass 500, with fears the rare Bundibugyo strain is spreading faster than first detected—especially in conflict-hit, hard-to-reach areas where people may have gone undiagnosed for weeks. Sierra Leone Readiness: Sierra Leone has strengthened entry screening and readied rapid response teams across all districts, urging the public to report symptoms quickly and avoid risky contact. US–Sierra Leone Migration: Nine migrants deported from the US landed in Freetown under a third-country arrangement, with officials saying they are being housed and supported while awaiting onward return. TB Funding Push: African MPs met to urge more domestic funding to reduce donor dependence in the TB fight.

Ebola Emergency Escalates in Congo: The WHO has declared the DRC–Uganda Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern as deaths climb to 131 and suspected cases top 513, with fears the Bundibugyo strain may have spread undetected for weeks amid conflict and displacement. Border Screening Tightens: The US has started enhanced entry screening and travel restrictions for people arriving from affected areas, while countries in the region are activating preparedness steps. Local Impact and Response: In eastern DRC, residents report panic and mounting economic pressure, as health teams race to trace contacts and expand care. Sierra Leone Preparedness: Sierra Leone’s health leadership is stepping up surveillance at entry points and keeping rapid response teams on standby, with no confirmed cases reported locally. Health Funding and Capacity: Separately, Sierra Leone’s Health Minister Austin Demby chaired a GFF ministerial meeting in Geneva, highlighting progress on maternal and child health and broader disease control. Hypertension Push: Merck Foundation and partners marked World Hypertension Day with scholarships and training support across multiple countries, including chronic disease screening activities in Sierra Leone.

Ebola Emergency Escalates in DRC: The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has climbed past 130, with more than 500 suspected cases, and WHO officials warn the spread may be faster and wider than first thought. Cross-Border Spread Fears: Uganda has reported confirmed cases and a death, as international teams push contact tracing and infection control while residents in Ituri describe a “cascade of deaths.” WHO Alert Raised: WHO has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, but says it does not meet pandemic criteria—while experts note the strain (Bundibugyo) is rare and has no proven targeted vaccine or treatment. US Response Tightens: The US has started enhanced entry screening and traveler monitoring, and is coordinating safe withdrawal of Americans exposed in the region. Sierra Leone Preparedness: Sierra Leone says it has strengthened surveillance at entry points and readied rapid response teams across all districts, with no confirmed or suspected Ebola cases reported. Health Capacity Push: Separately, Sierra Leone’s Health Minister Austin Demby chaired a Geneva meeting on financing for women’s and children’s health, as partners like Merck Foundation expand training for hypertension and diabetes care.

Ebola Alert Escalates: The WHO has declared the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo and Uganda a “public health emergency of international concern,” as deaths and suspected cases climb and experts warn the Bundibugyo strain may have been spreading undetected for weeks. Border Watch Tightened: Sierra Leone says it has boosted surveillance at entry points and readied rapid response teams across all 16 districts, with isolation supplies being reviewed and replenished. US Travel Restrictions: The US has started enhanced screening and monitoring for travelers arriving from affected areas, while coordinating safe withdrawal efforts for Americans potentially exposed. Local Care Gains: In the background, Sierra Leone continues health support—Chinese medical teams marked International Nurses Day with acupuncture promotion and chronic disease screening, and a community health officer surgical training program is credited with sharply reducing maternal deaths. Governance Pressure: Critics also renewed calls for better domestic priorities, pointing to frequent overseas travel by Sierra Leone’s president while health and other services struggle.

Ebola Alert Escalates: The WHO has declared the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern, warning it could be much larger than reported and that neighbouring countries face high risk. US Tightens Travel: The CDC and U.S. Homeland Security moved to enhance screening and monitoring for travellers arriving from affected areas, and are coordinating safe withdrawal of Americans possibly exposed. Sierra Leone Steps Up: Sierra Leone says it has no confirmed or suspected Ebola cases, but has strengthened surveillance at entry points and hospitals, with rapid response teams on standby across all 16 districts and isolation supplies being reviewed. Local Health Focus: In parallel, Sierra Leone’s health partners are pushing routine care—like a surgical training programme for community health officers that has helped cut maternal mortality risk, and Chinese medical teams running hypertension and acupuncture outreach events.

Ebola Emergency: The WHO has declared the Congo outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern” after reports of 80+ deaths and hundreds of suspected cases linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain, with uncertainty still high on how far it has spread and cross-border risk flagged for neighbouring countries including Uganda. No Pandemic Call: WHO stressed it does not meet pandemic criteria, but Africa CDC chief Jean Kaseya warned he is in “panic mode” because countries lack medicines and vaccines for this strain. Sierra Leone Alert: Sierra Leone’s NPHA says there are currently no confirmed or suspected cases at home, but it is keeping heightened vigilance while monitoring the regional situation. What’s driving concern: early symptoms can look like flu, spread happens through close contact with bodily fluids, and the outbreak is centred in Ituri’s mining areas—where movement and insecurity make containment harder.

Ebola Alert Escalates: The WHO has declared the new Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo a public health emergency of international concern, after reports of 88 deaths and 336 suspected cases linked to the Bundibugyo strain—and with cases detected in Uganda and Kinshasa, officials warn the true spread is still unclear. Vaccine Gap: Unlike the Zaire strain, this Bundibugyo outbreak has no vaccine available, raising pressure on surveillance, lab testing, contact tracing, and emergency response across borders. Sierra Leone Monitoring: Sierra Leone’s health authorities say there are no confirmed or suspected Ebola cases locally, but they’ve intensified preparedness while closely tracking developments in DR Congo and Uganda. What’s Driving Risk: Health experts point to mining-area movement, insecurity, and cross-border travel as key reasons containment could be hard.

Ebola Alert Escalates: A fresh Ebola outbreak in DR Congo’s Ituri province is now being reported as 87 deaths and 336 suspected cases, with one imported death confirmed in Uganda—sparking fresh regional alarm as health officials warn the strain may be different and that no vaccine is available for this one. Sierra Leone Readiness: Sierra Leone’s NPHA and Ministry of Health say there are currently no confirmed or suspected cases at home, but the country is on heightened vigilance and closely tracking the DRC situation and the linked Uganda case. Street Child Protection: ECOWAS Parliament adopted a resolution pushing member states to protect street children, end exploitation, and fund and enforce national strategies. Drug Crisis Watch: Separate reporting highlights a growing opioid problem in West Africa, with strong Indian-made tapentadol linked to “kush” misuse—adding pressure to already strained health and mental health services.

Ebola Alert in Sierra Leone: Sierra Leone’s NPHA and Ministry of Health say the country has no confirmed or suspected Ebola cases, but they’ve stepped up surveillance after new Ebola outbreaks in DR Congo and Uganda. The regional situation is serious: DR Congo reports 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths, while Uganda has confirmed one imported death with no local spread. Cross-border risk: Africa CDC links the deaths to the Ituri outbreak and warns that insecurity and heavy movement across borders could drive further spread. ECOWAS Child Protection: ECOWAS Parliament adopted a resolution urging member states to protect street children, end exploitation, and strengthen enforcement—after concerns that children are being pushed into begging, violence, and abuse. Sierra Leone Health Watch: Health authorities also recently declared a measles outbreak with 41 confirmed cases across eight districts, urging vaccination and urgent care for symptoms.

Ebola Alert in Congo: Africa CDC says a new Ebola outbreak has been declared in DR Congo’s Ituri province, with 65 deaths and 246 suspected cases reported, and lab testing confirming 13–20 samples so far; results on the virus type are expected within 24 hours as health teams push cross-border surveillance with Uganda and South Sudan. Sierra Leone Health Watch: Sierra Leone has also declared a measles outbreak, reporting 41 confirmed cases across eight districts since January–April, with Freetown’s Western Area Urban hardest hit and vaccination urged as the key protection. Drug Safety Concern: A wider West Africa warning continues over high-strength tapentadol linked to rising opioid harm, including reports of it being mixed into “kush.” Community Water Support: In other health news, a church-backed effort highlighted renewed focus on clean water and hygiene—showing how prevention starts before outbreaks spread.

Ebola Alert, DR Congo: Africa CDC says a new Ebola outbreak has been confirmed in Ituri province, with 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths already reported, and four deaths among lab-confirmed cases; officials warn the risk is higher because affected areas sit near Uganda and South Sudan, with mining-linked movement and ongoing insecurity making contact tracing harder. Infectious Disease Funding: The US is offering $290 million for early outbreak detection and rapid response, aiming to help countries act before outbreaks explode. Sierra Leone Measles Watch: Sierra Leone has declared a measles outbreak after 41 confirmed cases across eight districts, with Freetown hardest hit; health teams are pushing vaccination, surveillance, and contact tracing. Drug Crisis Risk: A new AFP investigation flags Indian-made tapentadol tablets being sold across West Africa and even mixed into kush, raising fears of more addiction and overdose deaths. Child Protection: ECOWAS Parliament adopted a resolution urging member states to protect street children, end exploitation, and ensure access to education and healthcare.