Our Ecosystem Health program has been operating in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since 2001, and is geared toward bringing a healthy environment to the communities in which we work. This, in turn, helps reduce the threat of disease cross transmission to the endangered gorillas and other animals within the nearby parks and reserves and provides basic health care to the stakeholders of protected areas. We now also have numerous other "people programs" underway, including clean water and clinic rebuilding projects, support for local schools and orphanages, and microenterprise projects.
Gorillas are closely related to humans genetically, and are highly susceptible to a number of human diseases. Some of these can be fatal and others may cause illnesses with severe consequences for the future. Cross transmission of diseases between humans and gorillas is considered a serious health and conservation issue.
At the same time, human populations in the same regions where the gorillas live are suffering from numerous health problems, due to malnutrition, overcrowding, minimal health facilities, lack of access to clean water, and poor sanitary conditions. This tends to increase human susceptibility to debilitating intestinal parasitic infections, as well as to numerous other diseases and health conditions, creating an “unhealthy environment” outside protected areas.
Our Ecosystem Health program is designed to create healthy environments for both people and gorillas. Some of the services we provide include:
These programs are conducted in cooperation with the local ministries of health in the countries and regions where we work.
» Read more about our ecosystem health programs
Dr. Alecia Lilly Vice President of African Programs with parasitologist in Ecosystem Health program, Congo (DRC).
Ildephonse Munyargerero manages DFGFI’s Ecosystem Health Program in Rwanda.
