Strategies to combat Ebola virus disease

Our work allowed us to observe that the respondents played different roles: epidemiologist, member of the communication strategy development committee and contact follow-up supervisor. According to them, preventive activities were carried out at two levels (community and institutional). The community level consisted of door-to-door sensitization of the population in affected areas and vaccination of contact cases during the last phase of the epidemic. The aim was to inform the communities about the virus and the behaviors they should adopt in order to break the myths and reticence and thus break the chain of contamination. At the level of health care facilities, triage zones for patients were set up. Focal points as well as community agents were trained to notify cases. However, the involvement of opinion leaders was not satisfactory, but gradually improved. In view of the magnitude of the situation, certain segments were strengthened. For example, communication with the community has helped to reduce pockets of resistance in several localities.