KINSHASA, Saturday, June 13, 2026. The quotes below come from a learning session with fifty-five Scholars from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They work with The Geneva Learning Foundation on the Ebola virus response, Bundibugyo strain. They spoke or wrote in the video chat between 1:34 p.m. and 3:35 p.m. UTC. Names and titles match the Zoom attendance list. Small edits remove false starts and transcription errors without changing meaning.
Understanding risk
“If people don’t understand the risk, they won’t take action. Everything you put in place stays outside. They won’t engage because it doesn’t concern them.”
Dr. Dominique Aleko, risk communication trainer, Kinshasa, during her presentation on risk communication and community engagement.
Trust is the starting point
“If the community doesn’t trust us, the team can’t stop the epidemic. First we must earn the community’s trust and stop the rumors.”
Dr. Dominique Aleko, framework presentation.
Don’t repeat rumors
“Don’t confront a rumor directly. If you look at what was said and throw it back, you’re helping spread the rumor. Respond with action and correct information instead.”
Dr. Dominique Aleko, framework presentation.
The community’s view comes first
“We need to know the community’s view, their culture, what they do. We have to understand that first so we can help. That’s what TGLF taught us.”
Dr. Dominique Aleko, framework presentation.
Twelve outbreaks and hard-won skills
“This is our twelfth outbreak since 2014, when we started fighting the epidemic in West Africa as part of African solidarity.”
Joseph Baroani Kikuni Jobacky, expert at the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Prevention, and chief inspector at the General Health Inspectorate, during his presentation on the outbreak and lessons learned.
Fifty years, seventeen outbreaks
“The DRC has had 17 Ebola outbreaks over 50 years, starting in 1976. This Bundibugyo strain is the second type we’ve seen. The first was in 2012.”
Joseph Baroani Kikuni Jobacky, epidemiological presentation.
Without treatment, follow the protocol
“Even in West Africa we had no specific treatment. It was always symptom treatment, and we strictly followed every protocol for infection prevention, case care, and safe burial.”
Joseph Baroani Kikuni Jobacky, epidemiological presentation.
The security layer
“When this disease appears in a conflict zone in the east, we add security steps. You cannot do supervision unless security forces give permission.”
Joseph Baroani Kikuni Jobacky, epidemiological presentation.
On the ground, fourteen kilometers from the outbreak
“I’m speaking from Durba, fourteen kilometers from the Watsa health zone offices. Watsa is right next to Mungwalu, the health zone hit hardest by the outbreak.”
Pasiko Eza, Foundation ambassador and health zone focal point, from Durba, Ituri, during his field report.
The perception survey, no one asked for it
“Friends in Kinshasa and I set up a Kobo Collect survey to see what people thought about the outbreak. We went to the field and collected data.”
Pasiko Eza, field report.
What the official bulletins leave out
“The data showed a serious problem. Most local people did not believe Ebola was real.”
Pasiko Eza, field report.
Attacks on the Red Cross
“Two days ago, we heard that Red Cross workers were being attacked. Why? In our African cultures and traditions, when someone dies, you stay with your family member. But with Ebola, especially the Bundibugyo strain, you cannot do that. This creates fear in the community. People say we are lying. Families try to take the body back, and that spreads more cases.”
Marlène Kapinga Mulumba, Foundation ambassador and head of service at the national directorate for continuing education, in follow-up remarks after the framework presentation.
The most practical idea of the afternoon
“If we want families to stay with their loved ones, we need to give them protective equipment.”
Marlène Kapinga Mulumba, in follow-up remarks.
The lab that could not detect the strain
“Our organization helped rebuild the main lab in Bunia with World Bank funding. But the equipment we had was PCR. It could not detect this virus strain. We needed different cartridges and the RADI-1 device. That is why the first detections came from INRB in Kinshasa.”
Dr Évariste Kayembe, specialist in gender-based violence at the health systems development program management unit, who went to Bunia and Wampara two weeks after the official announcement.
The customary authority, before contact tracing
“We met with the customary authority, the chief of the Hema chiefdom. The Wampara health zone and the Nyakundes are in his area, and they were hit hard by this outbreak. You cannot do this work without the local community.”
Dr Évariste Kayembe, remarks during the session.
The neighboring province
“There are not many cases in this area yet. People are not as aware as they are in Ituri province. In Ituri, in Bunia, in North Kivu, people already understand and are learning fast. Even at school—I talked to my sister in Bunia, and she said her granddaughter in kindergarten brought home information about prevention.”
Toyi Mirefu, Geneva Learning Foundation ambassador in South Kivu, speaking from Bukavu, in opening remarks.
The proverb the room repeated quietly
“Prevention is better than cure. We must protect our communities, because the disease is real even when we cannot see it.”
Toyi Mirefu, in opening remarks.
How the Foundation works, from someone who knows
“We do not sit in lectures where we just listen and leave. We are here together, as colleagues, sharing our experiences and challenges, learning from each other, and then going back to our communities to act.”
Dr Noelly Watusadisi, Geneva Learning Foundation ambassador and session co-facilitator, during the opening.
The new Bundibugyo course
“Alongside our malaria program—the course we launched on reversing malaria trends—we also thought about what we could offer to support the response to this outbreak in the DRC. This is training on Bundibugyo virus disease.”
Charlotte Mbuh, programs director at The Geneva Learning Foundation, joining from Ebolowa, Cameroon.
Bundibugyo virus disease: learn, act, and earn certification
Share your experience and learn from your colleagues about Bundibugyo virus disease. Learn more and enroll in this Geneva Learning Foundation certification: HH-FR-01 Experience sharing: Bundibugyo virus disease in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Support from the Foundation
“On behalf of The Geneva Learning Foundation, our hearts are with you. We appreciate the work you do, and we pray that we can respond quickly and stop this virus from spreading.”
Charlotte Mbuh, institutional remarks.
The loss, shared with the room
“She told herself she must keep going, but she is facing real hardship right now. On behalf of everyone in the DRC, we stand with you, dear Marie-Dominique.”
Patrice Bamulenga, Geneva Learning Foundation ambassador for the DRC and session moderator, just before the opening presentation.
The answer from someone grieving
“Thank you all so much for your kindness. It means the world to us.”
Dr Dominique Aleko, responding to messages of support in the chat, without stopping her presentation.
The three opening questions
“What are the main challenges you see in raising community awareness about Ebola? How can we build trust between health teams and communities during an outbreak? What specific steps can each of us take to reduce the risk of transmission?”
Dr Stanis Mutamba, chief medical officer and member of the organizing team, via chat.
The work behind this session
“We have been working with you for over three weeks to prepare for today. This brought together the energy of everyone—all participants, all ambassadors, everyone in the DRC—so this session could happen.”
Patrice Bamulenga, moderator, opening remarks.
Recognizing a volunteer team
“Besides me, Papa Joseph led the work organizing our Ebola response. Dr Noelly was his deputy. Marlène and Jean-Paul led our communications team. Jean-Paul is out in the field right now. And thank you to everyone else—Dr Stanis, Dr Emmanuel, and all who helped make this happen.”
Patrice Bamulenga, closing remarks.