The Youths of Beni, in north Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, have began a public awareness campaign aimed at strengthening community participation in the fight against a deadly Ebola outbreak.
The youth-led caravan, backed by Congolese civil society organisations and the World Health Organisation, comes amid growing hostility toward Ebola response workers in Beni and neighboring health zones.
The campaign followed several recent incidents targeting response teams. Burial workers were reportedly injured during an attack in Beni, while Ebola treatment facilities in Mongbwalu and Rwampara have also come under attack.
Beni, which was at the center of the 2018–2020 Ebola epidemic, is once again facing a serious outbreak, with health authorities and responders struggling to contain the spread amid persistent insecurity.
Vice president of the Beni Urban Youth Council, Paulin Livimba said the outbreak had emerged at a particularly difficult time for the city.
“The arrival of Ebola has coincided with a sudden increase in insecurity, leaving tensions extremely high and creating confusion within the community,” Livimba said.
Stronger Government Action
He called for stronger government action, arguing that financial resources announced for the response had yet to produce sufficient results for people living in affected communities.
The youth campaign also seeks to challenge suspicion directed at health workers and encourage residents to cooperate with response teams.
A leader of the One Girl One organisation, Sylvie Kalumbi said some young people had become hostile toward teams working to contain the disease.
“We want young people to understand that Ebola is real and that defeating it requires everyone to work together,” Kalumbi said.
Health officials and community engagement workers say misinformation and rumors remain major obstacles to the response.
The problem is compounded by armed conflict involving multiple groups across parts of North Kivu and Ituri provinces.
A community engagement official with Congo’s Health Ministry, Philemon Kambale said widespread misinformation had contributed significantly to public distrust.
“Rumors and misinformation have created serious mistrust, making community participation more important than ever,” Kambale said.
He urged residents, particularly young people, to become active partners in the response rather than opponents of health teams.
“The commitment of communities, young people and the wider population will be crucial to bringing this epidemic to an end,” Kambale said.
The organisers believe that restoring public confidence, countering false information and protecting health workers will be critical to containing the outbreak and preventing further loss of life.
Africanews
