"Ebola is not synonymous with death"

"I’m going pretty much every day to the schools," explains Huguette after addressing students at Butembo's Le Vérité School in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Gathering around her, the school's 600 students listen intently to Huguette, who reminds them how to protect themselves from the Ebola epidemic.

Do not panic

"I had just finished my studies in management and administration of community projects when the Ebola epidemic erupted," recalls Huguette Mulyanza, 24, who then engaged in the response. Huguette worked with teams of communicators to make the population of Butembo aware of the Ebola epidemic.

A few months later, Huguette's grandparents passed away and all their loved ones gathered for mourning. "I think it was during this event that I was contaminated," explains Huguette, who began to feel the first symptoms of Ebola. The young woman immediately went to the treatment centre where tests confirmed she had the disease.

"I did not panic because I knew that the treatment centre was the only way to heal," says Huguette. Huguette stayed several weeks at the Ebola treatment centre before being declared cured. Her healing certificate in hand, Huguette decided to continue her fight against the epidemic—a fight that had become personal.

Raise awareness and share their experience

Day after day, Huguette visits schools and public places in the city to explain that the Ebola disease and treatment centre are not synonymous with death. "Ebola is not synonymous with death, it is possible to heal," Huguette constantly repeats.

The fight against Ebola has also become a personal fight for 53-year-old Fabiola Masika Mwengesyali. "I go to schools to share my story after being cured of the virus myself," says Fabiola.

"I'm sometimes faced with reluctance because some say that the disease does not exist and others that it is a disease that has been brought here," confides Fabiola. To convince them, Fabiola tells how she was infected, how she was diagnosed, and also how she managed to overcome the disease that has already taken the lives of almost 2,250 people.

Stopping the spread of the disease

Thanks to the commitment of people like Huguette and Fabiola, more than one million students have received vital information about the disease and how to protect themselves from it. "During the sensitization sessions, there are a lot of questions from students," explains Gaby May, development communication officer for UNICEF. "They recall the symptoms and explain that you have to go early to the transit centre to heal," says Gaby, following interventions by Huguette and Fabiola.

Huguette, Fabiola and the other survivors of the epidemic are living proof that it is possible to cure Ebola. They also play a crucial role in sensitizing the local population and stopping the spread of the disease.

UNICEF’s response to the Ebola epidemic is supported by the World Bank, the European Commission – European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, Gavi - the Vaccine Alliance, the United States Agency for International Development, the Central Emergency Response Fund and the Government of Japan. UNICEF is also supported by the German Committee for UNICEF, the World Bank Group’s Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility, the United Kingdom and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.