CCIH Donors Help ESADER Strengthen Ebola Prevention in the DRC
Thanks to the generosity of CCIH donors, Ensemble pour la Santé et le Développement Holistique en Milieu Rural et Périurbain (ESADER) has been working to help communities prevent the spread of Ebola in and around Beni, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). CCIH recently launched a campaign to raise funds to support the Ebola virus response in DRC and was able to give microgrants to three CCIH members, including ESADER.
Eglise Anglicane de Kasanga Tuha. / Anglican Church of Kasanga Tuha. Photo: ESADER
Misinformation, fear, and mistrust are making Ebola response efforts especially difficult. In some communities, health workers responding to the outbreak have also faced resistance and threats.
“There are many rumors and misinformation about the Ebola virus that lead families to hide sick relatives, delaying investigations of cases. This makes the Ebola response work difficult, as in some communities the health workers engaged in the response can be threatened, and sick people do not receive adequate health care in time,” said Albert Baliesima Kadukima, Executive Director of ESADER. “Thanks to CCIH and the donors who gave to this campaign, ESADER has been able to improve access to handwashing and to educate communities with radio broadcasts to reduce resistance to positive behavior change.”
With support from CCIH, ESADER worked with local partners and health authorities to carry out community education and infection prevention activities. These efforts included community dialogue and awareness sessions, radio broadcasts, the distribution of handwashing stations, and the sharing of posters and leaflets with key information about Ebola.
ESADER coordinated its activities with the Ministry of Health and other organizations involved in the Ebola response, including WHO, UNICEF, local NGOs, and community organizations. This coordination helped ensure that communities received consistent, timely, and accurate information about Ebola and how to prevent its spread.
In total, ESADER distributed 20 handwashing stations, each equipped with a 135-liter plastic water tank, a 20-liter basin, and liquid soap. The supplies were placed at several sites, including the Anglican Church of Kasanga Tuha, Rwangoma, the Beni Ville Health Zone Central Office, Beni General Referral Hospital, and the Ebola response communication office.
Community engagement was a central part of the response. ESADER used participatory approaches and local languages to help people better understand how Ebola spreads, how they can protect themselves, and why cooperation with health workers is so important.
A plastic tank for handwashing. Photo: ESADER
The work has not been without challenges. ESADER reported continued community resistance in the Rwangoma health area, demonstrating why trusted, locally led communication remains essential to an effective Ebola response.
CCIH is deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to the fundraising campaign. Your generosity allowed local organizations like ESADER to respond quickly with practical tools, trusted information, and community engagement when they were urgently needed.