The Ebola Treatment Centre in Beni, the epicentre of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has opened its doors to members of the local Motorcycle Taxi Drivers’ Association in an effort to build trust and address misconceptions about the disease.
The visit, held on Wednesday, was aimed at giving community representatives a firsthand look at how the treatment centre operates and how patients and their families are cared for.
Dr Jérémie Muhindo, head of the Ebola response in Beni, said the visitors were taken through the admission process and shown how caregivers, companions and family members could monitor the progress of patients receiving treatment.
He said the visitors were surprised by what they saw during the tour. “They were truly amazed,” Muhindo said.
Judith Kavira, a member of the Motorcycle Taxi Drivers’ Platform, said the visit helped ease concerns about the facility.
“There’s no cause for concern,” she said after touring the centre.
Health facilities in the region have faced significant pressure as the Ebola outbreak continues, with more than 3,300 people reportedly killed and over 6,800 confirmed cases recorded.
The outbreak has also been accompanied by attacks on health workers and burial teams, particularly in communities where families have lost loved ones.
Authorities and health organisations have reported at least a dozen attacks on facilities involved in Ebola treatment, with fear of the disease, misinformation and mistrust of healthcare workers cited among the factors contributing to the incidents.
Health officials have increasingly sought to engage community groups and local leaders to improve understanding of Ebola treatment and encourage cooperation with response teams.
The Beni treatment centre’s outreach to motorcycle taxi drivers is part of those efforts to strengthen community confidence and reduce tensions around Ebola response activities.
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