Source: APO – Report:
In areas affected by the Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) outbreak, gaining the trust of communities remains essential. Rumours, fear of Ebola treatment centres and safe burial practices, as well as reluctance toward certain public health interventions, can delay alerts, patient care, contact tracing and case management.
In Nyankunde, a health zone located 45km from Bunia, the capital of Ituri province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this reality has been particularly evident. Of the 11 health areas, eight were affected by the outbreak. Safe and dignified burials, site decontamination and the use of body bags were at times met with resistance from affected communities.
In some cases, reluctance went beyond refusal of public health measures. The Ebola Treatment Centre, set up near the general referral hospital was attacked on 15 and 16 July 2026, illustrating the challenges faced by response teams.
Ismael, a resident of Nyankunde, does not doubt the existence of Ebola. For him, the disease is real and dangerous, though perceptions remain divided within the community. “Rumours fuel fear of treatment centres and some people believed that patients taken there might receive injections that could cause their death,” he explains.
Faced with limited knowledge of Ebola disease, Ismael believes that respected community figures can play a decisive role. “A community leader is listened to because he is known by his people. He can help those who are hesitant to better understand the disease and adopt responsible behaviours,” he says.
This proximity is precisely what health zone teams have relied upon. According to Étienne Mwere, Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) officer for the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare in Nyankunde, the lack of information fuelled resistance. Exchanges with authorities and local leaders were therefore intensified to better address community concerns and facilitate acceptance of public health measures.
To date, at least 32 community dialogues have brought together more than 1500 community leaders, administrative authorities and other influencers in Nyankunde.
In Sota, one of the health areas heavily affected at the start of the outbreak, with up to 4–5 confirmed cases per day, community leader Esaï Abaseke Kabonne recalls a particularly difficult period. “At first, people did not understand that the disease existed and did not want to go to the treatment centre, but with the involvement of leaders, things are improving,” he recounts.
Gradually, the direct impact of the disease on families and exchanges with responders began to shift perceptions. Some leaders with affected relatives shared their experiences, giving greater weight to prevention messages.
To consolidate this progress, the health zone increasingly relies on community-based volunteers. Sixteen community leaders—two in each of the eight affected health areas—have been identified and trained to intensify dialogue with residents.
Their mission goes beyond awareness-raising. They help to quickly report alerts, identify sick people, respond to concerns and foster adherence to public health measures. Door-to-door visits, small-group discussions and local networks are among the methods used to reach communities.
At 18 years of age, Espérance Chandikana is one of the community leaders involved in awareness efforts. “I am here to help my community. Prevention is better than cure,” she says.
On the ground, changes are becoming visible. Public health interventions are gradually better understood and accepted and collaboration with response teams is improving, driven by the work of community leaders and volunteers.
“Since we expanded the community network, we have seen much stronger engagement. Community alerts, which previously did not exceed 11 per day, now reach 60 to 70 per day,” notes Dieudonné Ramazani, WHO RCCE expert in Nyankunde. At the same time, resistance to public health interventions has faded. No new attacks against response teams or health facilities have been reported since July.
This progress is also reflected in growing community involvement in response activities. In Sota, Divine—who lost two family members and six community members to Ebola—voluntarily joined a team responsible for safe and dignified burials in the health areas of Basunu, Tekele, Irumu and Sota.
With support from WHO and other partners, health authorities continue to work closely with communities. The goal is to make communities not just recipients of interventions but fully engaged actors in efforts to break chains of transmission and end Bundibugyo virus disease.
“I am proud to work and be part of the team and contribute to saving the lives of my brothers and sisters. We do not want to lose anyone else to this disease,” concludes Divine.
– on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.
