In Beni, Religious Communities Engage in Ebola Prevention (Translated Title)

Religious communities in Beni, a city in North Kivu, are taking a leading role in combating the persistent threat of Ebola. Both Christian and Muslim groups have established prevention measures at their places of worship to protect their congregants.

At the entrances to many churches and mosques, handwashing facilities have been installed. Teams equipped with laser thermometers systematically check the temperature of worshippers before they enter. To further minimize contamination risks, some parishes are enforcing physical and social distancing, in addition to hygiene protocols. They have adapted their services by increasing the number of celebrations and dividing attendees into smaller groups to avoid dense gatherings.

Other communities are utilizing outdoor spaces, with some worshippers attending services in church courtyards to reduce crowding inside buildings and maintain a one-meter distance. At Beni's largest Catholic parish, strict vigilance is maintained: handwashing is mandatory, and handshakes are forbidden, even during mass, to ensure social distancing. The Adventist community in Madrandele is also rigorously applying response measures, with deacons stationed at entrances to enforce barrier gestures and temperature checks. Insulating bands have been placed on pews to ensure physical distancing.

Jacques Migheri, responsible for development in the Adventist community, highlighted their alert status and response team. "We are really on alert, because we have already set up a response team. Logistically, we have resources like sinks and thermoflashes. We also insist on respecting barrier measures and regularly sensitizing our members to limit the spread of the epidemic," he stated. He noted that while they usually receive over 700 people on Saturdays, this number has been halved, with others seated in the courtyard to maintain distance.

Despite these dedicated efforts by religious leaders to raise awareness and enforce protective measures, many express regret over the insufficient support from competent authorities. They specifically point to a lack of prevention materials and the need for strengthened awareness campaigns within the communities. The mobilization of religious confessions is seen as a crucial relay in the collective fight against Ebola.

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We are really on alert, because we have already set up a response team. Logistically, we have resources like sinks and thermoflashes. We also insist on respecting barrier measures and regularly sensitizing our members to limit the spread of the epidemic. We receive each sabbat more than 700 people. Currently, we have reduced this number by half and the other faithful are installed in the courtyard in order to respect the distancing of one meter.