Former rebel fighters help Ebola response in eastern DRC

Demobilised former combatants in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo have begun taking part in public information campaigns aimed at curbing the spread of Ebola, health officials said on Tuesday. The initiative, launched by the Ministry of Health in partnership with the World Health Organization and local NGOs, enlists the ex‑fighters to disseminate prevention messages in villages and towns that have been hard to reach by conventional health workers.

Authorities report that the former combatants, who have undergone a reintegration program, are using their knowledge of local terrain and community networks to distribute flyers, demonstrate safe burial practices and encourage early reporting of symptoms. Since the campaign’s start in early July, the number of newly reported Ebola cases in the targeted districts has shown a modest decline, prompting officials to consider expanding the model to other affected regions. The effort underscores a broader strategy of leveraging community trust to enhance disease surveillance and response in a conflict‑affected setting.