Democratic Republic of the Congo: Safe and dignified burials help prevent the spread of Ebola

In Ituri Province, in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, safe and dignified burials play a critical role in the fight against Ebola. The disease spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, and after death, certain burial practices can expose family members to the virus if appropriate protective measures are not in place. In a region where funeral rites are central to community life, protecting families while respecting traditions remains essential. When the current outbreak began in the province, health teams were met with considerable mistrust in some communities. “In the beginning, many people did not understand why health teams needed to intervene during burials,” explains Pastor Richard Ndjaridjo. Some families hesitated to report deaths and continued to organize funerals on their own. In some cases, bodies that had already been buried were exhumed to allow relatives to carry out certain traditional rites. Teams responsible for safe and dignified burials also faced threats and attacks, complicating efforts to stop the spread of the virus. In this context, developing an approach that protected communities while respecting their beliefs and

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