Church and Community Media Unite Against Ebola in Ituri

Bishop Antoine Kalema Tambwe leads partners, including Harper Hill Global, in initiative to strengthen awareness and prevention.

By Judith Yanga

July 17, 2026 | BUNIA, Congo

The United Methodist Church, with support from Harper Hill Global and other partners, is waging a public information campaign to stop the spread of the deadly Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Since the World Health Organization officially announced the latest outbreak of Ebola in May, the epidemic has caused 756 deaths as of mid-July and continues to pose a threat to local communities, particularly in the provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri.

The United Methodist Church of East Congo, under the leadership of Bishop Antoine Kalema Tambwe, has committed to fighting the spread of the disease. Concerned for the well-being of the faithful and the communities, the bishop has undertaken a series of initiatives with partners to strengthen awareness and prevention efforts.

 This appeal resonated with Harper Hill Global, a partner of the Eastern Congo Episcopal Area, and the agency agreed to support the church in this public health mission. Thanks to its work, several communication activities were implemented to inform the population about the dangers of Ebola and the measures to take to protect themselves.

“I call on all the faithful to respect all the measures taken by the Congolese government to stop the spread of the virus and fight this disease in our respective communities,” the bishop declared.

The church is encouraging the population to become active participants in prevention and protection. On the ground, religious leaders are playing a vital role in disseminating Ebola prevention animations focused on containment, prevention, and safe burial practices. 

In Bunia, capital of Ituri Province, Pastor Germain Masinda conducted information sessions at local churches. Masinda is superintendent of The United Methodist Church’s Beni District.

One of the strengths of the communication campaign lies in its use of local languages. Thanks to support from Harper Hill Global, animation soundtracks are broadcast on five radio stations throughout the Ituri Province in languages ​​understood by most of Ituri's inhabitants, including Hema and Lendu. This approach enables reaching a larger number of people and makes the information more accessible and effective, according to Dr Deogratias Otshudi, director of the Congolese national radio station in Ituri.

Community media are also actively participating in this mobilization. Freddy Lorima, president of the Ituri Community Media Association, said five radio stations in the province regularly broadcast programs and messages dedicated to the fight against Ebola. This collaboration of the church, partners and the media significantly strengthens the reach of awareness campaigns.

The results of this initiative are significant. First, the population is better informed about the modes of transmission of the disease and the behaviors to adopt to avoid infection. Next, communities are more aware of the importance of respecting the health measures recommended by the authorities.

The use of local languages ​​has also fostered better understanding of prevention messages, particularly in rural areas, said Dr. Deogratias Otshudi, a United Methodist Church member in East Congo, based in Bunia.

For Major Gustave Shutshe, pastor of the Dhele local church in Bunia, this community-based communication has strengthened community engagement and created a collective movement against the disease. Parishioners, religious leaders, journalists and community leaders are now working together to protect communities.

However, this mission is not without its challenges, noted Dr. Damas Lushima, general coordinator of health in East Congo for The United Methodist Church. Misinformation and rumors are among the main obstacles. In several localities, some people doubted the very existence of Ebola, spreading false information about the disease. Language barriers, difficult access to some remote areas, a lack of communication resources and mistrust of official messages also complicated awareness efforts at the outset.

Despite these difficulties, the actions taken helped reduce the spread of misinformation and improve public confidence in the response measures. By disseminating reliable information in languages ​​adapted to the local context, community radio stations and churches became true relays for prevention, Lushima added.

In Bunia, specifically at Dhele local church, an animated video about the fight against Ebola was shown during Sunday service. The congregation was delighted to receive prevention information in its native language, even at church. Others downloaded the video and began sharing it with their families, children and spouses, declaring themselves ambassadors in the fight against Ebola in their communities.

This experience demonstrates that in the fight against an epidemic, communication is much more than a simple information tool: it is a weapon of protection.

Yanga is director of communication for The United Methodist Church’s Eastern Congo Episcopal Area.

Harper Hill Global provides media, messaging, and mobile solutions that combat misinformation while teaching evidence-based Ebola prevention. Your gifts will help us equip and train locally trusted leaders with the materials they need to teach in churches, mosques, community centers and more. Each portable classroom costs $2,500.