DRC: Mobilizing Faith Leaders to Curb the Spread of Ebola Through Channels of Hope

In Ituri, the fight against Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is being waged as much within communities as it is in health facilities. As the resurgence of the disease continues to place immense pressure on health and social systems, World Vision is strengthening the response through an approach that places community trust at the centre of the fight against the outbreak: Channels of Hope (CoH).

Developed by World Vision, the Channels of Hope approach has been rolled out across Ituri Province to address socio-cultural barriers and actively engage influential community leaders in the public health response. As a result, 400 senior community figures and religious leaders have been trained on the CoH model applied to Ebola prevention across eight health zones: Bunia 1, Bunia 2, Bunia 3, Nizi, Rwampara, Lita, Tshomia and Nyakunde.

In the Nyakunde Health Zone, the scale of the situation highlights the urgency of sustaining this mobilisation effort. According to Dr Charles Kashindi Maguta, Medical Director of Nyakunde Hospital, 127 confirmed cases have been recorded, of which 58 people recovered and 60 died. These figures reflect both the severity of the outbreak and the importance of maintaining a strong community-based response.

For Dr Maguta, population movement contributed significantly to the introduction of the disease into the area. The confirmation of the first cases gradually revealed that the virus had already been circulating within the community.

“The greatest need that remains is to strengthen awareness-raising activities. I know that World Vision, through its Channels of Hope approach, has already begun this work, and we can already feel its impact in our community here.”

This reality demonstrates that, while medical intervention is essential, it must be supported by community mobilisation capable of influencing behaviour, reducing rumours, and restoring trust in public health messages.

Religious Leaders at the Heart of the Response

In a context where faith plays a central role in daily community life, religious leaders are trusted and influential voices. It is this strength that World Vision’s Channels of Hope approach seeks to harness.

Through CoH training, religious leaders are equipped to incorporate Ebola prevention messages into their engagement with congregations and communities. The objective is clear: to transform their influence into a powerful tool for prevention, combating stigma, and promoting community engagement.

For Pastor Ignance Bingi, the intervention has a deeply personal significance. The disease has already had a devastating impact on his community. Fifteen members of his church died, leading to the closure of three churches. Within his own family, he reports having lost ten relatives during a period when the signs of the disease were not immediately recognised.

“Before World Vision began the training sessions, we were aware that there was a problem. However, its approach was unique because World Vision integrated a public health perspective, in other words, it humanised the epidemic.”

Today, every pastor or religious leader who has completed the training understands which Biblical or Qur'anic passages can be used to help communities recognise the seriousness of the disease, he adds.

This approach has enabled him to develop a new way of communicating with congregants. Rather than limiting messages to scientific terminology, trained leaders can now adopt a socio-pastoral approach, drawing on Biblical and Qur'anic references to help communities better understand and embrace prevention messages.

Transforming Information into Trust

The change being observed goes far beyond the mere transmission of information. More importantly, it concerns how that information is received, understood, and accepted by communities.

According to Pastor Bingi, community members are now more attentive when health messages are delivered in language and terms that are familiar to them.

“People have hope in the message, but not necessarily confidence in it. Our goal is to help the population believe in the message and trust it.”

This observation echoes Dr Maguta’s concerns regarding the persistence of stigma. Together, the two testimonies highlight the same challenge from complementary perspectives: science provides medical solutions, but trust enables communities to adopt them.

In Nyakunde, surveillance data also indicate that the response must remain active. As of 29 August, three suspected cases were still under monitoring, while one person had been declared recovered and no deaths had been recorded. These figures serve as a reminder that, even when indicators improve, vigilance and community mobilisation must continue.

A Response Beyond the Health Emergency

The challenge is all the more significant given that Bunia faces considerable social vulnerability, with four large camps for internally displaced people surrounding the town. These sites are characterised by overcrowding and conditions that can facilitate the spread of disease.

In this environment, the Channels of Hope approach helps extend the response beyond health facilities by mobilising a network of actors capable of reaching communities where they live, worship and make daily decisions.

For World Vision, this intervention forms part of a broader humanitarian vision: protecting populations, reducing vulnerabilities and preserving the dignity of people affected by crises. By strengthening the capacities of religious leaders, the organisation is helping to build bridges between medical expertise, community engagement and socio-cultural realities.

Investing in Trust to Save Lives

The 127 confirmed cases, 58 recoveries and 60 deaths recorded in Nyakunde illustrate the urgency of maintaining a multi-sectoral response. However, they also demonstrate why the fight against Ebola cannot rely solely on medical interventions.

The testimony of the doctor highlights the need to reinforce and expand awareness efforts. The testimony of the religious leader demonstrates how these efforts become more relevant and credible when delivered through trusted voices.

Through Channels of Hope, World Vision is strengthening the capacity of religious leaders to become trusted actors in the Ebola response, capable of delivering context-appropriate messages, combating stigma, and encouraging communities to adopt preventive measures.

Because in the fight against Ebola, controlling the disease requires more than medical care. It also requires restoring trust. And that trust begins where communities choose to listen.