My mother told me I would die if I sought treatment for Ebola - I am proof you can survive
Dr. Raymond Kasereka Kamwanga, a physician in the Democratic Republic of Congo, shares his personal experience of surviving Ebola despite initial community stigma and fear. His story serves as a public health effort to combat misinformation and encourage patients to seek professional medical treatment.
Why it matters
Personal narratives from survivors are critical in public health crises to overcome cultural barriers and improve trust in medical institutions.
Image source, Braton Serge/BBC By Ruth Alonga BBC Africa , Reporting from Butembo Published 5 minutes ago When Dr Raymond Kasereka Kamwanga told his family he suspected he had Ebola and was going to a treatment centre in the city of Butembo in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, his family were horrified.
They regarded the specialised unit as a "death house" as not many patients do recover - especially those admitted in the late stages of the illness. His 50-year-old mother was in tears, pleading with him not to go there.
"Why are you choosing to die at the Ebola treatment centre?" Masika Ndungo had asked him.
But as a doctor at Butembo's Katwa Hospital, he knew that if stayed at home, he was unlikely to survive.
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