Health
DR Congo’s Mpox Crisis: How Prostitutes And Prospectors Are Driving The Spread
DR Congo’s Mpox Crisis: How Prostitutes And Prospectors Are Driving The Spread....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Come nightfall, gold-diggers, hawkers and prostitutes alike barrel into the bars of Kamituga in the eastern DR Congo, with some blaming the mining town’s nightlife for its growing mpox outbreak.
“Life in Kamituga drives people to sin,” warned Bitama Sebuhuni, a prospector hospitalised after contracting the sometimes deadly viral disease during unprotected sex.
Renowned for its goldmines, Kamituga was the starting point of the mpox epidemic that has struck the Democratic Republic of Congo since September, according to the country’s health authorities.
Abandoned by Belgian companies in the 1990s, its rich mineral veins have since attracted a vast variety of DIY diggers and eager prospectors from all walks of life.
Officially home to some 300,000 people — though local sources put the population at double that — Kamituga’s colonial-era buildings have been overshadowed by a string of gold-buying bureaus, mining equipment shops and nightclubs.
With the virus passed from person to person through close physical contact, these establishments provide an ideal environment for mpox to spread.
After a hard day’s working up a thirst down the mines, gold-rush Kamituga’s pitmen emerge to hit the town and spend their cash in search of close companionship and what Sebuhuni called “atmosphere”.
“When we talk about atmosphere, in our country we talk about women, prostitutes and alcohol,” Sebuhuni said. “I used to sleep with prostitutes like this, without control or protection”.
– Nightclubs and prostitutes –
The prospector was being treated in the Kamituga hospital’s verdant mpox isolation centre, a rare oasis of calm spared the anarchy of the town centre.
Around “20 per cent of our patients were contaminated by sexual transmission,” said doctor Dally Muamba Kambaji of the ALIMA international medical NGO, underlining that “the condom does not protect” from mpox.
The hospital’s doctors were the first to be confronted by mpox’s resurgence from September 2023.
“We noticed unusual skin lesions on the manager of a nightclub,” said doctor James Wakilonga Zanguilwa.
“When we noticed that certain loose women in the same nightclub had started to develop similar lesions we sounded the alarm,” the medic added.
The “Mambengeti” nightclub may have shut its doors, but its name lives on as the local nickname for mpox — whose spread in Kamituga was in large part driven by prostitutes.
Roaming the town’s alleys and dives, they have a district to themselves and even their own association.
Its members, who come from as far away as the DRC’s neighbours, gathered in a bar hidden at the end of a maze of alleyways.
Dubbed “The Sage’s Corner”, the establishment played host to gold panners and traders alike, with even a Congolese intelligence officer to keep an eye on comings and goings.
– Pimps and prostitutes –
Around a dozen of the association’s members sat down on shabby sofas around a table in the first-floor bar, laden with lukewarm beers.
Heavily made-up with her blonde wig tucked under a scarf, false eyelashes and large gold earrings, Nicole Mubukwa had no hesitation in speaking on camera despite the lingering stigma against her profession in the region.
A little publicity could not hurt, she said — especially given that mpox was bad for business.
“Since the outbreak of this disease, customers have been few and far between,” Mubukwa lamented.
The women said that many infected women say nothing about their disease to avoid losing out on much-needed revenue.
“I was infected without knowing it and that was tough for me because I couldn’t sleep with a man,” said Alice, another member of the “association”.
“It’s just like with AIDS, everyone hides it.”
Alice said she earns between 3,000 and 10,000 Congolese francs (around one to 3.5 dollars) for each engagement.
She said that she came from the provincial capital Bukavu, where salaries are less generous.
That decision was made of her own free will, she said — albeit under the watchful and unwieldy eye of the madam sitting nearby.
But back at the hospital, another prostitute who wished to remain anonymous told AFP that gangs of pimps trick young women into selling their bodies.
At first, the pimps offer a free ticket to Kamituga with the promise of a job as a waitress in town, before demanding that they pay them back for the cost of the transport, she said.
Despite the pitiful state of the roads linking Kamituga to the rest of the DRC, the virus has nonetheless spread throughout the whole of South Kivu.
And now the province is epidemic’s epicentre in the country — itself the worst-hit by mpox in Africa.
In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Professor Oyewale Tomori, a renowned virologist and disease control expert, highlighted the critical role of early laboratory diagnosis in preventing infectious diseases from spiraling into epidemics in Nigeria. He emphasized that accurate and timely community reporting and surveillance are the foundations upon which effective diagnosis relies.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Tomori explained that many infectious diseases, including viral and bacterial infections, exhibit similar symptoms, such as fever and body aches. Early detection is essential to preventing misdiagnosis and initiating a proper response. Without swift confirmation, diseases like yellow fever might be mistaken for malaria, leading to uncontrolled outbreaks. He pointed out that surveillance systems must be robust, with communities actively reporting cases as the first step in controlling disease spread.
When asked about the challenges faced in diagnosing diseases in Nigeria, Tomori addressed the issue of misallocated resources. He dismissed the idea that Nigeria is “resource-limited,” stating that resources are often wasted on unnecessary expenditures, such as lavish government processes, rather than prioritizing health and disease control. He called for a reordering of national priorities, advocating for better funding for disease surveillance and laboratory facilities.
Tomori also discussed how delays and incorrect diagnoses contribute significantly to the rapid spread of diseases. He cited the widespread misdiagnosis of typhoid as a prime example, noting that incorrect treatments often lead to ineffective responses and continued disease transmission.
On the role of technology, Tomori expressed optimism about the improvements in diagnostic methods, which have drastically reduced testing times. New advancements in genomics, he explained, have made laboratory tests more accurate and faster, significantly enhancing the ability to respond to outbreaks before they escalate.
Reflecting on successful cases, he pointed to the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Nigeria as an example of how early detection and swift isolation helped contain the disease. The country managed to stop the spread of Ebola, while West Africa, without timely intervention, saw a devastating epidemic.
To strengthen Nigeria’s diagnostic systems and prevent future epidemics, Tomori suggested establishing a well-coordinated national laboratory network. This would ensure that even the most remote areas of the country have access to proper diagnostic services and can effectively contribute to the early detection and control of infectious diseases.
The Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Muhammad Hamim Nuhu Sanusi, has reassured residents of Jigawa State that polio immunization is safe, firmly debunking long-held misconceptions suggesting the vaccine causes infertility.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Speaking at the launch of a polio vaccination campaign in Jiba village, Dutse LGA—an area historically known for rejecting immunization—the monarch emphasized the importance of dispelling falsehoods surrounding the initiative. He stressed that the vaccine poses no harm and cited the example of his late father, Emir Muhammad Sanusi, who immunized his own children to build public trust.
He further explained that immunized women are often healthier and more capable of bearing children, contradicting widespread fertility myths.
Dr. Hassan Shuaibu Kwalam, Director of the Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, highlighted the campaign’s goal to vaccinate two million children under five by month-end. He noted the urgency of boosting immunity amid lingering strains of the virus, despite Nigeria’s polio-free certification in 2013.
UNICEF’s representative, Dr. Lukman, also warned of recent resurgences, revealing that 18 new cases were reported in 2025 across nine states, including two in Jigawa. He emphasized the need to close vaccination gaps to prevent further outbreaks.
Despite the availability of anti-malaria medications and preventive measures, many Nigerians continue to suffer from recurring malaria attacks, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current treatments.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In 2023, Nigeria accounted for a staggering 27% of global malaria-related deaths, underscoring the country’s ongoing battle with the disease. This alarming statistic highlights the persistent nature of malaria in Nigeria, despite efforts to combat it through the distribution of drugs and public health initiatives.
On this World Malaria Day, experts are focusing on why malaria remains so widespread, even as treatments and preventive measures are accessible. The issue of treatment resistance, the prevalence of fake anti-malaria drugs in circulation, and inadequate health infrastructure are some of the factors contributing to the crisis.
During a special episode of Nigeria Daily, experts discussed how the persistence of malaria challenges the country’s health system and called for stronger measures to ensure the effective treatment and eradication of the disease. The episode further examined the role of both the government and private sectors in tackling malaria and improving public health outcomes.
With malaria continuing to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria, experts emphasized the importance of prioritizing comprehensive health strategies to address the root causes of the disease’s persistence.
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