Beni, October 7th, 2026 (CPA).- Eight new Ebola survivors, discharged Wednesday from the Ebola Treatment Centre at the Beni General Referral Hospital in North Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, testified to the quality of the medical care they received. “When I first developed a fever and felt extremely weak, I was very afraid. I thought it was the end.
But after receiving care from the medical teams, my condition gradually improved. Today, I am alive and I want to encourage others not to be afraid to seek treatment at the Ebola treatment centre,” one of the survivors testified anonymously. These recovered men and women now present themselves as living witnesses to the effectiveness of medical care.
In Beni, their experience represents a message of hope for communities facing the resurgence of the outbreak.
Speaking on behalf of the other six survivors, they called on the population not to regard them as a threat, stressing that beyond physical recovery, returning to the community can sometimes constitute a new ordeal.
Some survivors may indeed face fear, mistrust or rejection because of misconceptions surrounding Ebola. “We were sick, but we have recovered. We need to return to our normal lives, work and live with our families like everyone else,” explained Kavira Musubao Cécile, a survivor.
The fight against stigma is thus becoming an essential component of the response. A well-informed community is better prepared to support sick people and survivors.
“We call on the entire community to continue trusting health workers, who are doing their utmost to save patients.
We should also raise awareness in schools and churches that the disease exists and can be treated,” suggested Dr Jérémy Muhindo Katsavara, Medical Director of Beni General Referral Hospital and head of the medical care pillar at Beni ETC. ACP/