Central African Republic (CAR) - Haut-Mbomou: Launch of preventive vaccination against Ebola in Obo

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Haut-Mbomou: Launch of preventive vaccination against Ebola in Obo

March 19, 2026

(audio)

Following Bangui and several provinces, the city of Obo officially launched its preventive vaccination campaign against the Ebola virus on Tuesday, March 17. This operation primarily targets healthcare workers and members of the defense and security forces, considered the most exposed groups. By Aymard Gilles Quentin Mocki. We listen to him in remarks collected by Aymard Gilles Quentin Mocki.

The launch ceremony took place at the Obo District Hospital in the presence of local and health authorities. This initiative is part of a national strategy aimed at anticipating any epidemic risk by strengthening the immunity of frontline workers. The chief medical officer of the Haut-Mbomou health district, Dr. Armand Guezza, explained that the selection of beneficiaries reflects a need for strategic management of medical resources. Lacking sufficient stocks to cover the entire population, the government opted for targeted protection of professional categories considered at risk.

A strategic targeting of frontline actors

The program gives absolute priority to doctors, nurses, midwives, nursing assistants, community health workers, and laboratory personnel. Defense and security forces are also included as a secondary component. This rigorous selection process ensures the safety of those in direct contact with potential suspected cases, thus guaranteeing the continuity of health and security services in the event of an alert.

Four days of health mobilization

The campaign, scheduled to last four days, has already generated considerable enthusiasm, with many volunteers turning up as soon as it opened. To ensure the smooth running of the operation, two vaccination sites have been set up in the city: the Obo District Hospital and the AIM Medical Center. The strong involvement of administrative authorities and community health workers demonstrates the local commitment to strengthening health resilience in the face of cross-border infectious disease threats.

https://www.radioguira.org/actualites/10988

 

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Ebola: Bangui strengthens prevention through vaccination

APA-Bangui (Central African Republic)APA-Bangui (Central African Republic)
August 10, 2026 | 2:58 PM

The Central African Republic (CAR) has vaccinated more than 41,000 people against Ebola as part of a preventative campaign conducted from January to April 2026, an initiative aimed at strengthening the protection of healthcare professionals and the country's capacity to deal with a possible introduction of the virus.

Faced with the persistent risk of an epidemic in the sub-region, the Central African authorities, with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners, deployed a campaign in the 35 health districts spread across the seven health regions of the country, reaching up to 41,000 people.

A total of 52,010 doses of the ERVEBO® vaccine were made available. The campaign enabled the vaccination of 41,442 people belonging to priority groups, representing national coverage of 83.9%. Among the beneficiaries were 28,935 healthcare professionals and frontline workers, who are particularly exposed in the event of an epidemic.

" We are exposed to a double risk: that of an imported epidemic and that of an epidemic occurring within our borders ," explained the Minister of Health and Population, Dr. Pierre Somse, justifying the choice of a preventive vaccination strategy.

A regional threat

No cases of Ebola have been recorded to date in the Central African Republic. However, the country remains particularly attentive to the evolution of the regional health situation, especially due to its long border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has experienced several epidemic outbreaks in recent years.

Ebola virus disease is a serious infection that can be transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or certain animals carrying the virus. An outbreak can quickly overwhelm healthcare systems and have significant consequences for communities.

In this context, the Central African authorities are prioritizing a proactive approach aimed at protecting, first and foremost, personnel likely to be on the front line during a possible outbreak.

Beyond vaccination

The operation was not limited to the administration of vaccines. It also helped to strengthen the capacities of the Central African health system through the training of staff, the improvement of data monitoring, the raising of community awareness and the strengthening of coordination between the different actors.

According to Dr. Alhassane Touré, head of the introduction of new vaccines at the WHO office in CAR, this experience demonstrates the importance of acting before an emergency arises.

" By protecting healthcare professionals and other priority groups, while strengthening the preparedness of the health system, it helps the country to better cope with a possible Ebola threat ," he stressed.

The campaign also emphasized building public trust. Information and awareness-raising activities were conducted in several localities to answer community questions and encourage their participation in vaccination.

For Pinda Astrid, a community health worker at the Bangui 1 health facility, vaccination now constitutes an additional protection in the performance of her duties.

" It allows me to do my job with more confidence, while helping to protect the people I support on a daily basis ," she says.

For his part, Yamba Jordan, community liaison in the Lakouanga 6 district of Bangui, says he initially hesitated before finally accepting the vaccination after the explanations provided by the health teams.

Beyond the 41,442 people vaccinated, the authorities and their partners believe that the campaign has helped to consolidate surveillance and response mechanisms, as well as the relationships between health services and communities.

For the CAR, these achievements constitute an additional capacity to deal not only with a possible threat related to Ebola, but also with other health emergencies that may occur in the country.

TE/Sf/APA

https://fr.apanews.net/health/ebola-bangui-renforce-sa-prevention-par-la-vaccination/
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