Olivier Mukuku

Background: Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) represents a growing global health burden, with rising incidence and mortality worldwide. Despite major therapeutic advances, access to novel systemic treatments remains uneven across countries and regions. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, web-based international survey to assess the availability and reimbursement status of 20 innovative systemic therapies for RCC. Responses were collected from 144 clinicians, including medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, urologists, and nuclear medicine specialists, across 58 countries. Analyses examined associations between national income level, gross domestic product (GDP), and treatment availability. Findings: Thirty-six percent of the countries analyzed had at least 15 of the 20 therapies available. Full reimbursement for at least 15 of the selected innovative therapies was reported in six countries (10%), while 21 countries (36%) fully reimbursed 10-14 therapies and 13 countries (23%) reimbursed 1-9 therapies. In contrast, no full reimbursement for any of the assessed therapies was reported in 18 countries (31%). Higher national income level was significantly associated with greater availability of innovative therapies (Kruskal–Wallis test, P < .0001). Armenia (0.709), Greece (0.685), and Israel (0.666) exhibited the highest GDP-adjusted Drug Availability Index (DAI), whereas India (5.195), Nigeria (4.612), and Morocco (3.794) demonstrated the greatest number of available therapies per US$1000 of GDP per capita. Interpretation: Access to innovative systemic therapies for RCC remains highly unequal at the global level, with reimbursement posing a major barrier even where drugs are available. Internationally coordinated efforts addressing health policy, infrastructure, and equitable pricing are urgently required to ensure that advances in RCC treatment translate into improved outcomes for patients across diverse economic settings.

In May 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared an outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease caused by Bundibugyo ebolavirus. We analysed aggregated official Situation Reports (SitReps) issued from 14 May through 14 July 2026 to describe the reported epidemic trajectory, geographic expansion, mortality, interval-specific growth, and conditional six-month projections. Confirmed cases increased from 8 to 2073 and confirmed deaths reached 796; 45 health zones in five provinces were affected. Average interval-specific growth rates generally declined over the observation period, although cumulative cases and the geographic footprint continued to increase. Gompertz and Richards curves described the observed cumulative trajectory better than logistic and exponential curves according to root mean square error (RMSE), the corrected Akaike information criterion (AICc), and the Bayesian information criterion (BIC); this comparison reflects in-sample fit only. Conditional six-month scenarios varied substantially across assumptions (approximately 2435 to 10,839 cumulative cases by 14 January 2027) and are contingent and highly uncertain; Gompertz fits showed underprediction of the subsequently reported total in four temporal checks. Reported case fatality ratios (CFRs) varied across provinces but are vulnerable to outcome delay, incomplete case ascertainment, small denominators, and retrospective reclassification. The results support continued surveillance and response planning but do not identify the causes of epidemic slowing or establish that transmission was controlled.

In May 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared an outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) caused by Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV), for which no licensed vaccine or antiviral treatment was available. We analysed the epidemic trajectory through 14 July 2026 and developed conditional six-month projections. Aggregated data from official INSP/COUSP Situation Reports (14 May–14 July 2026), supplemented by WHO and UN reports, were used to describe cases, deaths, case-fatality ratios (CFRs), and geographic spread. Log-linear models estimated phase-specific growth rates and doubling times; logistic, Gompertz, and constant-incidence scenarios were used for projections, with model comparison, Bayesian sensitivity analysis, deterministic sensitivity bounds, CFR confidence intervals, and rolling-origin validation. Confirmed cases increased from 8 to 2,073, with 796 deaths (national CFR, 38.4%), while affected health zones increased from 3 to 45 across five provinces. Doubling time increased from 8.9 to 19.5 and 25.1 days, representing a 64.1% reduction in growth rate. Ituri accounted for 89.9% of cases, while North Kivu had a CFR of 58.7%. Six-month projections ranged from 2,624 cases under rapid containment to 3,942 under continued deceleration and 10,839 with persistent recent incidence. Although proportional growth slowed, transmission and geographic expansion remained active. The divergence between modelling approaches and systematic under-prediction in temporal validation indicate substantial forecast uncertainty; projections should therefore be interpreted as conditional planning scenarios rather than deterministic forecasts.

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) is a major public health concern, ranked as the fourth leading cause of cancer. Evidence shows that CC is preventable if detected and treated at the early stages. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), national‐level evidence on women’s awareness of CC and its associated factors remains limited. Aims: This study aimed to assess the level of cervical cancer awareness and identify factors associated with awareness among women of reproductive age in the DRC. Introduction: Cervical cancer (CC) is a major public health concern, ranked as the fourth leading cause of death. Evidence shows that CC is preventable if diagnosed at the early stages. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), there is limited evidence at the national level and on factors associated with CC awareness among women of reproductive age. This study aimed to address this gap. Methods: The study analysed secondary data from a total weighted sample of 27 583 women aged 15–49, drawn from the 2023–2024 DRC Demographic and Health Survey (DRCDHS). The dependent variable was CC awareness, and the independent variables were the sociodemographic characteristics of a woman. Descriptive, bivariable and multivariable analyses were conducted. A significant factor was determined at p ‐value < 0.05 at 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The overall CC awareness among women of reproductive age in DRC was 21.3% (95% CI = 19.5–23.2). Logistic regression results revealed that women aged 25–34 (AOR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.12–1.66) and 35–49 (AOR = 1.60; 95% CI = 1.27–2.02), women who were residing in urban areas (AOR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.06–2.20), women with primary education (AOR = 1.45; 95% CI = 1.03–2.04), secondary education and above (AOR = 1.73; 95% CI = 1.22–2.45), employed women (AOR = 1.48; 95% CI = 1.20–1.84), women who had been examined for breast cancer (AOR = 4.72; 95% CI = 2.91–7.67), women who had been listening to radio (AOR = 1.60; 95% CI = 1.28–1.99), women who had visited health facility last 12 months (AOR = 1.63; 95% CI = 1.35–1.97), Christian (AOR = 2.35; 95% CI = 1.06–5.21), use internet (AOR = 1.67; 95% CI = 1.23, 2.28), reading newspaper/magazine (AOR = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.01–1.76) and delivered at health facility (AOR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.18–1.98) were statistically significant associated with having CC awareness compared to their counterparts. Conclusion: The study revealed overall suboptimal CC awareness among women of reproductive age in DRC. Although health education interventions should target all women of reproductive age, special attention should be given to younger women aged 15–24 years, those with no formal education and those living in rural areas, as these subgroups demonstrated particularly lower awareness levels. Strengthening tailored interventions for these vulnerable groups may therefore improve awareness within the broader reproductive‐age population and the community at large.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency has been increasingly recognised among children and adolescents with epilepsy, particularly in low-resource settings, where disease-related factors, antiepileptic treatments, and nutritional deficiencies may contribute to reduced serum levels. This study aimed to assess vitamin D status and identify associated factors in children and adolescents with epilepsy in Watsa health zone, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 43 children and adolescents with epilepsy. Sociodemographic, clinical, nutritional, and treatment-related data were collected. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and calcium levels were measured. Associations were explored using bivariate analyses, correlation tests, and multivariable linear regression models. Results: The mean age was 11.2 ± 6.3 years, and 55.8% were male. Most participants (60.5%) had uncontrolled seizures. Vitamin D insufficiency was highly prevalent (69.8%), while 25.6% had deficiency; only 4.7% had normal levels. Mean serum 25(OH)D was 23.5 ± 4.3 ng/mL. In bivariate analysis, fish (p = 0.002), milk (p < 0.001), and egg consumption (p = 0.013) were associated with higher vitamin D levels. No associations were found with age, sex, epilepsy characteristics, treatment, or calcium levels. In multivariable analysis, fish (β = 6.51; p < 0.001), milk (β = 4.32; p = 0.001), and eggs (β = 3.62; p = 0.004) remained independent predictors of higher serum 25(OH)D. Conclusion: Vitamin D insufficiency is highly prevalent among children and adolescents with epilepsy in Watsa health zone. Dietary intake of fish, milk, and eggs appears to be the main modifiable determinant of serum 25(OH)D levels, highlighting the importance of targeted nutritional interventions in this population.

Cholera remains a persistent public health challenge in Goma, Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. This study assessed seasonal variation, temporal tr

Amidst severe aid cuts, sustaining paediatric HIV care in Africa is urgent. Children and adolescents face disproportionate risks from treatment disruptions. A youth-centred, multisectoral approach—...