In Guinea — and throughout West Africa — families are accustomed to washing and kissing their dead goodbye before laying them to rest.
It’s a common knowledge cultural practice now, particularly to aid organizations like the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies working with the Guinean Red Cross on safe burials across Ebola-affected Guinea.
But more than a year ago, it was a mystery hampering their Ebola response operations. When aid workers tried to collect and transport community members’ dead for sterilization purposes, for example, the family members left behind felt mistrust, suspicion and the desire to fight back.
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About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.
