When the Ebola outbreak was officially announced, I had just arrived in Uvira (a city located in the South Kivu Province, Eastern DRC) from Kinshasa. At first, it all felt unreal and hard to accept that the disease in question was Ebola. I felt deeply disappointed and even considered returning home immediately. The uncertainty and fear were real. My first concern was the people: my team at Women for Women International, where I work as the Country Director of the DRC, and the women we serve in Uvira and Bukavu. Since Uvira is far from Beni (a city in North Kivu, Northeastern DRC), I decided that staying was not only the right choice but also necessary. I chose to stay, work alongside my team, and continue our work despite the circumstances.
The outbreak has entirely changed how we interact. Small gestures like handshakes and hugs, which once represented our warmth and friendliness, are now impossible.
This change is particularly hard for us because we are inherently warm and hospitable culturally, expressing care through physical closeness and connections. Today, I can't greet my team or embrace the women we serve as I used to. These women, whose strength and resilience motivate me daily, are now distant, and this absence causes me deep pain. The forced separation has brought about an unfamiliar silence and an emotional distance that is difficult to accept. It has altered not only our interactions but also how I perceive my work and my relationships.
Immediately after Ebola was officially declared an outbreak, we promptly implemented strict protective protocols at our offices and training centers. A national task force was formed, meeting weekly to provide updates and ensure all staff are knowledgeable and aligned with the response efforts. We also participate actively in government-organized Ebola coordination meetings in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO). We have established dedicated channels, including direct contact numbers with health authorities, to facilitate quick reporting and response to any suspected cases.
Recognizing the importance of prevention and vigilance, our efforts go beyond internal measures to engage deeply with the communities we serve. In Bukavu and Uvira, we work closely with traditional leaders, influential community members, and frontline healthcare workers through the government health division, such as nurses, to raise awareness about the outbreak and encourage vital prevention practices. These joint efforts help protect everyone and support a collective response to safeguard our communities.
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Our participants are central to everything we do, and their safe access to training centers is a top priority.
We have implemented strict preventive measures to protect them, including systematic temperature checks, installing handwashing stations, and enforcing hygiene protocols upon arrival. Additionally, we limit each session to a maximum of 25 participants to maintain safe distancing while providing quality training. These precautions are vital — not only to protect the health of the women we serve but also to ensure our programs can operate responsibly and securely.
A major factor fueling Ebola's spread is widespread misinformation.
Despite the DRC's expertise and learnings from past outbreaks, some communities deny its existence, dismissing it as a scam by international organizations to secure funding amid declining resources. This mistrust delays reporting and medical help as families care for infected relatives at home, allowing the virus to spread. This has increased cases, particularly in Ituri Province, the outbreak’s epicenter. It's crucial to work with communities to rebuild trust, correct misconceptions, and share accurate information. Without community engagement, even strong health systems will struggle to contain the disease.
Community engagement is important in fighting misinformation and Ebola. It involves working with trusted community leaders who understand cultural realities, rather than just spreading health messages. At a training center, I was shocked to hear a woman saying that Ebola spreads when a young man uses a family's toilet, leaving the virus and causing the whole family to die. This highlights how misconceptions drive fear and stigma, unfairly linking the disease to men. Traditional, religious, and community leaders are key in correcting misinformation because they understand their communities best. I was pleased to hear from the participants that many churches have stopped physical greetings, showing that prevention messages are being accepted. Genuine engagement and information encourage communities to change behaviors to protect themselves.
Women are central to our work and to the Ebola response because the outbreak affects women and men in different ways.
Women are often primary caregivers, which can increase their exposure to infection, while men may face risks linked to mobility, work, and livelihood activities. Risk communication and response efforts must recognize these differences and also consider the needs of persons with disabilities. Although the Provincial Health Division leads the response, we promote a gender-responsive approach by ensuring women’s voices are included in preparedness and response efforts. In Bukavu and Uvira, women nurses and healers are taking part in training and awareness-raising activities, helping communities address misinformation, stigma, and protective behaviors. A gender-responsive approach strengthens the Ebola response by empowering women as leaders, health workers, and educators. It helps build trust, supports informed communities, and promotes lasting change by recognizing and strengthening the critical role women play in every part of the response.
The Ebola outbreak has reminded me of what true leadership is—being present, staying dedicated, and moving forward together, even when faced with uncertainty.
There are still significant needs that can improve the Ebola response. Based on my visits and community interactions, I identify three key areas for support:
1. Producing and distributing IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) materials is crucial to ensure communities have access to accurate information about Ebola. A gender-sensitive approach ensures messages reach everyone according to their needs.
2. Strengthening WASH and infection prevention practices at all levels is essential. Beyond awareness, communities need practical knowledge and resources to adopt safer behaviors. Training on hygiene, caregiving, handwashing, and infection prevention, along with providing materials like handwashing stations, soap, chlorine, protective gear, and hygiene kits, will help families implement safety measures, especially women, who face higher risks.
3. Supporting isolation centers is vital to meet patients' and families’ needs. Providing hygiene supplies, clothing, bedding, dignity items, and food helps ensure comprehensive care and fosters trust in the response, encouraging early care-seeking.
Ending this outbreak requires trust, communication, and community ownership. Without community collaboration, even the best response will struggle, but informed communities can effectively stop Ebola's spread.
I am confident we can beat this outbreak. Ebola isn't a challenge for health workers alone; it calls for all of us to work together. Every conversation, awareness session, and community activity counts. This belief fuels my resolve to keep working closely with communities.