Ebola survivor shares story of recovering after seeking treatment

Dr Raymond Kasereka Kamwanga faced intense opposition from his family when he decided to seek care for suspected Ebola at a specialist facility in Butembo, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. His mother, 50-year-old Masika Ndungo, begged him not to attend the clinic, which the family feared was a "death house" where few patients recovered.

Despite his mother asking, "Why are you choosing to die at the Ebola treatment centre?", the 30-year-old medic insisted on going. As a doctor at Katwa Hospital, he understood that remaining at home would likely result in his death. This occurred in July, two months after the World Health Organization (WHO) classified the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern.

The Congolese health ministry identifies Butembo, located in North Kivu province, as the epicentre of the crisis. The ongoing outbreak has caused 5,400 deaths and 11,000 infections, representing the second-most deadly instance of the virus ever recorded. Dr Kamwanga is among the 3,031 individuals who have successfully recovered.

Dr Kamwanga believes he was infected after having contact with a patient in an environment where protective equipment was insufficient. He is now writing a book about his ordeal to encourage his community to seek help. "As someone who has recovered, I am living proof that the disease exists, but also that it is possible to recover from it," he said.