To halt the spread of Ebola, Environmental Defenders, together with its affiliates Terra Agricultural Cooperative and Radio Terra, launched a local-language Ebola prevention campaign on June 12, 2026. The campaign began in Mahagi Territory. It is now expanding to Mambasa, Djugu, Irumu, and Aru territories in Ituri Province, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The visual and audio campaign will help communities in Mahagi Territory respond to the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. This strain has no licensed vaccine or specific treatment.
As a result, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared in May 2026 that the fight against the Bundibugyo strain would depend on early detection, strict infection prevention, rigorous contact tracing, safe burials, and deep community engagement.
The Bundibugyo outbreak and a crisis of trust
As of June 10, WHO had confirmed a cumulative 676 Ebola cases in the DRC, including 136 deaths. Around the world, the number of cases and the delay in detecting the outbreak raised fears that it could spread out of control to other countries.
In eastern DRC, the epicenter of the outbreak, misinformation and a community that doesn’t trust public officials have had serious consequences. An Ebola treatment center has been burned and burial teams attacked. There are also reports of families hiding suspected patients, who then spread the disease without medical care.
Dr. Paul Wabekwo, Medical Director of the Mahagi Port État Referral Health Center, spoke at the official launch of this large, multi-pronged behavior change campaign, which aims to rebuild public trust. He warned of grave consequences when people fail to report possible Ebola cases to health authorities.
To illustrate the danger, Dr. Wabekwo shared a chilling account from Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province, where a whole family was almost wiped out after hiding an Ebola patient.
“This disease is a reality. Recently in Bunia, a single case of infection tragically claimed the lives of 10 members of the same family, plunging the entire community into panic and mourning.” — Dr. Paul Wabekwo, Medical Director, Mahagi Port État Referral Health Center
In response to this threat, Dr. Wabekwo called for urgent improvements in hygiene infrastructure. In particular, he urged the installation of handwashing stations at all key entry points to Wagungu Chiefdom, to screen travelers from other regions and keep the virus out.
The launch, held at the Mahagi Port État Referral Health Center, marked the distribution of 16,000 local-language posters. Local administrative authorities and health officials from Nyarambe Health Zone attended.
Reaching Lake Albert’s high-risk shoreline
On the first day, the effort focused on the shores of Lake Albert, an area at very high risk of infection. Because of its location, this part of the territory regularly receives fish traders from Mungwalu and Tchomia, two areas already affected by the outbreak.
To maximize impact, distribution teams targeted busy public spaces, shopping centers, and vulnerable workplaces. For instance, they put up posters and shared safety messages in markets, with street vendors, along the shoreline, and in hair salons, hotels, and motorcycle taxi stands. The posters also reached schools, health facilities, and farmers in their fields.
To make this large-scale campaign a success, ED and its affiliates mobilized 88 community liaisons and members of the Community Mobilization Unit (CAC). Together, they worked closely with local health authorities. By the end of the event, the campaign had covered three health centers in Nyarambe Health Zone: Mahagi Port État, which serves 13,050 people, and Mahagi Port CECA 20 and Agudi Usoke, which together serve more than 24,000.
Health authorities praise the Ebola prevention campaign
Representing the head of Nyarambe Health Zone, the zone’s Primary Health Care Supervisor thanked the organizers. Indeed, he called the campaign an unprecedented initiative in the region and praised, above all, the use of the local language.
“This is a first for our health zone. Usually, the government sends us materials in Lingala or Kikongo, languages that aren’t spoken here, or in French, which remains inaccessible to the illiterate population.” — Primary Health Care Supervisor, Nyarambe Health Zone
In his view, this local approach will make prevention messages much easier to understand. He also issued a stern warning against denial: “Ebola virus disease is very real, and it has already claimed the lives of hundreds of people. Skeptics must stop doubting.”
Health workers lack protective equipment and training
Despite these efforts, conditions in facilities that serve thousands of people remain alarming. At a meeting with community liaisons and the CAC at Agudi Usoke Health Center, nurses described the dire conditions they work in.
Ms. Akeche, a midwife at the center, voiced deep concern about a critical shortage of protective equipment. For example, health workers lack gloves, masks, disinfectants, and protective coveralls. Consequently, they face major risks of infection while caring for patients.
Beyond supplies, Ms. Akeche raised another major issue: a lack of training. So far, local staff do not know the protocols for managing suspected cases or the self-protection techniques needed for the Bundibugyo strain. She therefore called for urgent action to close this skills gap before a case reaches the facility.
An ongoing response to the Ebola epidemic
At the launch, Uguti Upar Justin, Station Director of Radio Terra FM, who coordinated the campaign, explained that the posters are part of a wider series of community health initiatives. Environmental Defenders, Terra Agricultural Cooperative, and Radio Terra lead them in partnership with the Ministry of Health.
Several large-scale actions began before the poster distribution. Radio Terra FM has built awareness messages into its daily programming and produces radio spots and news programs on prevention. Moreover, health experts appear regularly on air. In addition, partnerships with other radio stations in Mahagi Territory extend coverage to as many households as possible.
Environmental Defenders already works with 15 radio stations across Ituri, including Radio Nyarambe, Dynamique, Umoja, Djalasiga, and RADID. Under contract, these stations broadcast behavior change messages on Ebola prevention from medical experts and community leaders.
All content is produced in local and regional languages spoken in Ituri. Before broadcast, health experts and leaders carefully review and approve each piece. To ensure quality, Terra FM manages the production and sourcing of all materials.
The immediate impact: a community educating itself
The campaign is already having a deep impact. Residents were delighted to receive and read materials written in their own language. Within hours, therefore, the landscape had visibly changed. People put posters up on shop walls, pinned them to trees in plain view, and fixed them in public places and on the walls of health centers.
In the evening, a striking scene unfolded across the area. Groups of residents gathered at dusk, holding posters together and reading the guidelines aloud. In this way, they educated one another to stop the virus.
Next steps: expanding the Ebola prevention campaign
The response team is already planning its next steps. This week, more posters will reinforce coverage across Wagungu. At the same time, plans are being finalized to replicate the campaign in the Mukambu, Angal, and Djukoth areas, with field operations starting on Monday, June 15, 2026. Kawayu Ufoyuru Daniel and Oscar Kacwinyrwoth from Environmental Defenders will join the local teams to co-lead and oversee the deployment.
How to support the Ebola prevention campaign
To learn more about Environmental Defenders’ work to prevent and respond to Ebola in Ituri, and how you can help, please contact Sarah Lonyo, Senior Program Officer, at lonyo@watetezi.org, or Samuel Jaryekonga Warom, Communications Director, at warom@watetezi.org.
