Jean-Jacques Muyembe Tamfum

Dr. Jean-Jacques Muyembe Tamfum is a fellow Congolese citizen and medical colleague for whom I have great respect. His fight against Ebola, from helping discover the virus in 1976 through the recent outbreak from 2018 to 2020, has greatly benefited the people of Congo as well as the entire world. Dr. Muyembe took exemplary action to battle misinformation and public mistrust of vaccine therapies, and pioneered new containment techniques for the devastating virus, thus strengthening the medical and scientific commitment of an entire generation. For five decades, he has been a model of excellence for humanity as he gives hope to the most vulnerable. Dr. Muyembe is among the exceptional men who advance science and truly make a difference.

We are confronted constantly with health challenges, but I am convinced that his expertise, combined with that of other international scientists, will continue to be of great help in overcoming new scourges that we face, like COVID-19. Even beyond the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dr. Muyembe’s many contributions to medicine make him a treasure for the world. I applaud his work, dedication and perseverance.

Mukwege is a gynecologist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate