DRC - Tuberculosis 2026

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Tuberculosis screening campaign: 6 cases recorded in Mbuji-Mayi central prison

Published on Mon, 22/06/2026 - 18:20 | Modified on Mon, 22/06/2026 - 18:20

Six confirmed cases of tuberculosis were reported on Friday, June 19, at the central prison in Mbuji-Mayi, Kasai-Oriental province, following a screening campaign within the facility. According to Dr. Marcel Kazadi, provincial coordinator for the fight against tuberculosis, the screening, conducted from June 11 to 15, targeted more than 590 inmates and prison staff.

Dr. Marcek Kazadi indicates that a total of seventy-six people presented with symptoms suggestive of the disease during screening. He specifies that measures are being taken to ensure the care of those affected.

He also states that the necessary medications are already available to treat the eighty-two people concerned.

Furthermore, Dr. Kazadi deplores the confinement of healthy prisoners with sick ones. He points out that the facility has no ward specifically designated for tuberculosis patients.

According to him, this close proximity between prisoners risks fueling the chain of transmission of the disease within the prison.

He believes it is urgent to build rooms reserved for patients in order to limit the spread of the disease.

“ If at least we had rooms where we could separate these patients from those who are not yet infected, that would be a good thing. At that point, we could break this chain of transmission, but they live together every day, ” laments the provincial coordinator of the fight against tuberculosis in Kasai-Oriental.

In March 2026, the coordinating body had already made the same appeal to the authorities for the construction of two separate rooms outside the large communal dormitories. This separation, deemed essential, aimed to stop the chain of transmission of contagious diseases in this closed environment.


https://www.radiookapi.net/2026/06/...-tuberculose-6-cas-enregistres-dans-la-prison

 

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Kasai Oriental: 54 cases of tuberculosis reported at Mbujimayi central prison

August 7, 2026

Mbujimayi, August 7, 2026 (ACP). – 54 cases of tuberculosis have been reported at the central prison of Mbujimayi, in the province of Kasai Oriental, in the center of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), by the director of this prison, during an interview Friday with ACP.

“ Overall, we have 52 cases of tuberculosis among the inmates, excluding staff. There is close proximity, and we have difficulty separating the sick from those who are not. Also, we have to wait quite a while for screening; that is the difficulty we have ,” said Ms. Marguerite Mbelu, director of the Mbujimayi central prison.

“ For tuberculosis, we have the product, but for malaria we have a very small quantity and for other diseases, we have none. We are waiting for supplies from Cadmeko (Central Purchasing and Distribution of Medicines of Kasai Oriental) and the Diulu health zone, thanks to the advocacy of the provincial Minister of Health and the Minister of Justice ,” she added.

She also mentioned the absence of the central government subsidy, received only once at 70% since the beginning of the year.

“ The conditions for the prisoners are complicated; we’ve only received the subsidy once, and even then, only 70%. We have debts, and we’re asking people of goodwill to help us with whatever means they can, so we can meet the prisoners’ needs ,” he concluded.

ACP/N/B

https://acp.cd/province/kasai-orien...e-signales-a-la-prison-centrale-de-mbujimayi/
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