The Congolese civil society has called for a community-based approach to fight against Ebola in the Ruwenzori region. Mumbere Mulala Meleki, coordinator of the new Congolese civil society in the Ruwenzori sector, emphasized the importance of involving various social actors in awareness-raising actions. He made these remarks during an interview with the Congolese press agency in the Mutwanga health zone of Beni territory, North Kivu province.
Meleki recommended the involvement of village chiefs, nurses in charge of health centers, and community leaders in awareness-raising activities. He also suggested using local languages to strengthen understanding and trust between response teams and communities. This approach aims to encourage the population to collaborate with teams engaged in the fight against Ebola and not to rely on rumors.
The coordinator of the new Congolese civil society in the Ruwenzori sector urged the population to respect prevention measures, such as regular handwashing, avoiding contact with patients or suspected cases, and rapid consultation of health structures in case of symptoms. He also called for an end to attacks on awareness teams and healthcare personnel, highlighting that such acts can complicate response efforts.
According to Meleki, the Mutwanga health zone has recorded nine positive Ebola cases, including three deaths, over the past month. He encouraged the community to take advantage of the current security calm in the Ruwenzori sector to strengthen social cohesion, collaboration, and coexistence.
This position comes after an incident in Mwenda, a locality in Beni territory, where a delegation led by the Ruwenzori sector chief was confronted by residents while visiting a patient who tested positive for Ebola. The delegation was accompanied by the chief medical officer of the Mutwanga health zone and the commander of the Congolese national police.
The incident resulted in a person being injured and evacuated to Beni city. Meleki condemned the attack and called for an end to such acts, which can hinder response efforts. He emphasized the need for collaboration between the community and response teams to combat Ebola effectively.
The Congolese civil society's advocacy for a community-based approach aims to enhance the fight against Ebola in the Ruwenzori region. By engaging local actors and using local languages, the response teams hope to build trust and encourage collaboration with the affected communities.
Key points
- The Congolese civil society is advocating for a community-based approach to combat Ebola in the Ruwenzori region.
- The approach involves involving local actors, such as village chiefs and community leaders, in awareness-raising activities.
- The use of local languages is also recommended to strengthen understanding and trust between response teams and communities.
