Brazzaville – The Republic of the Congo is one of 15 countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region where the mpox outbreak remains active. The country has made risk communication and community engagement central to its response strategy. As of April 9, Congo had recorded 50 confirmed cases since the start of the outbreak, with only five active cases remaining and no deaths reported.

When the Ministry of Health and Population declared the mpox outbreak in April 2024, the situation was evolving and quite concerning. Organizing a response to quickly contain the virus and protect the population was the main priority. WHO immediately supported the country by deploying experts trained under the SURGE initiative – an effort aimed at strengthening and deploying rapid response teams during emergencies – to the affected departments. These experts helped boost the capacity of health care providers to investigate confirmed cases, collect samples, and ensure their safe transport.

The SURGE team also supported the risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) component. “Raising awareness among the population by mobilizing community actors is an essential approach to limiting the spread of the epidemic and encouraging patients to visit the nearest health centre at the first signs of symptoms,” said Vinny Joseph Mollitan, RCCE specialist at the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (COUSP). “Without this field mobilization, we wouldn’t be able to ensure proper circulation of information and preventive messages throughout the territory – something that has helped reduce the spread of the disease.”

Members of the SURGE team trained departmental and community actors to equip health care professionals and community relays with knowledge about mpox and techniques for raising awareness.

In total, 215 health care professionals and 84 community relays were trained in the six affected departments: Brazzaville, Cuvette, Cuvette West, Likouala, Plateaux and Pointe-Noire. Murphy Nzitoukoulou, a community animator in the Lumumba health district in southern Congo, took part in this training. Since then, he has been committed to spreading information. 

“Mpox can be transmitted by different animals. Avoid handling dead animals, even if it's your pet. Be careful and practice good hygiene,” he explains during a community discussion. “We go to markets and large gatherings to inform people about this dangerous disease. Before this, we were trained to communicate the message properly.”

WHO supported the training sessions that helped disseminate verified information about the disease, detailed preventive measures and the procedures to follow in case of infection. “Strengthening the capacity of local actors has enabled them to access reliable information on mpox, allowing them to support the response through community awareness,” explained Dr Vincent Dossou Sodjinou, WHO’s acting representative in Congo. “WHO’s role is to support the response across all sectors, to help the country halt the spread of the virus.”

In addition to risk communication and community engagement, the Organization – with the support of partners including Germany – helped strengthen health care professionals’ capacity to manage mpox patients, enhance epidemiological surveillance, improve diagnostic systems, and provide guidance on home-care management.

Word-of-mouth awareness has been reinforced by communication materials, posters, media messages and outreach through nearly 20 social media platforms.

Mich, 31, who lives in the Madibou district in Brazzaville, has gained a strong understanding of mpox thanks to the awareness sessions she attended. “At first, we didn’t believe mpox was real. But when health agents and community relays visited us, we understood that not only does mpox exist, but we also need to take precautions to protect ourselves,” she said.

Thanks to RCCE efforts, awareness is now widespread, and information about mpox is being consistently shared. The population  most directly affected when it comes to their health and well-being has made community engagement one of WHO’s key recommendations for effectively combating epidemics, and promoting essential public health measures.

In the Lumumba district, Murphy remains committed to protecting his community. “I will continue raising awareness about mpox and other diseases. Our health is in our hands, and good practices keep us safe,” he affirmed.