World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (centre) speaks to staff from Samaritans Purse in Komanda on 01 January 2019. The NGO was in the process of setting up an Ebola Treatment Unit  in Komanda, one of the current epicentres of the ongoing Ebola outbreak.

Dr Tedros traveled over the New Year to Ebola-affected areas in the DRC to review the response at this critical phase. On the three-day mission (31 December 2018 - 2 January 2019) to Beni, Butembo and Komanda, Dr Tedros took stock of the outbreak, spent time with affected communities, and personally thanked responders for their dedication. WHO has 380 response staff in North Kivu and Ituri working together with hundreds more from the Ministry of Health and partners.