Free healthcare for non-Ebola illnesses still not applied in Ituri, 3 months after government announcement

Free healthcare for non-Ebola diseases in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Ituri province has not yet been implemented, despite being announced by the Ministry of Health nearly three months ago. Civil society organizations in Ituri are denouncing the delay, highlighting concerns that the continued postponement is hindering access to essential medical services for the population.

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Although I worked hard with my team and medical staff, we had to make a difficult decision: I will not be able to participate in the US Open this year.

The government had pledged in June to cover the costs of treating other ailments in health facilities across the province. This initiative was intended to encourage people to seek medical attention promptly, even during the ongoing Ebola response. However, as August draws to a close, the promise remains unfulfilled, according to the Civil Society Forces Vives of Ituri.

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I returned to the courts in Monte Carlo these past few days and we realized that I still need more time to recover from my right knee problem.

Dieudonné Lossa, the coordinator for Civil Society Forces Vives of Ituri, stated that the delay in implementing this measure risks restricting healthcare access for a significant portion of the population. He urged the government to expedite its decision to ensure equitable medical coverage during the epidemic period.

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Obviously I am very sad and disappointed, because New York holds a special place in my heart.

In response, the Prime Minister's office indicated that the process for making the universal free healthcare a reality is in the final stages of operationalization at the central government level. It was clarified that while the new measure pertains to other common diseases, confirmed or suspected Ebola cases are already receiving entirely free care as part of the epidemic response efforts.

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The idea now is to stay in Europe and continue my recovery with the medical and performance teams, with the goal of being ready for the Asian tour and the Beijing and Shanghai tournaments.