Sensitisation of the local and indigenous population is a key element in preventing major outbreaks of epidemics such as Ebola, anthrax or respiratory diseases. The direct and extended target group of the project includes staff of the primate habituation programme and their families, tourist guides, ecoguards, researchers, project staff, tourists and indirectly the local population.

Human Health Care - Conservation and ecotourism staff and their families receive an annual health check-up and vaccinations. In addition, access to health care for the general population was strengthened through cheaper or free health care in health stations and hospitals. A mobile unit was also set up to provide initial health care in remote locations.

Awareness raising - Radio programmes about zoonotic and infectious diseases have been designed to reach a broader audience. To target the indigenous population, an educational film was produced in local languages, and an indigenous youth organisation developed interactive theater plays to sensitize communities about infectious diseases and preventive measures.

Training - Health staff from 13 health stations in Dzanga-Sangha were trained through simulations to appropriately react in case of (epidemic) disease outbreaks.

Through a fully functioning integrated health monitoring system for people, habitat and habituated apes and other wildlife, an early warning system was created. The aim is to detect prevalent diseases early and prevent its spreading within wildlife or human population through improved collaboration with public health and civil society actors. The Health monitoring system comprises:

Health condition of habituated gorillas are monitored daily. The Primate Habituation Programme was started by WWF back in 1997 and is one of the main pillars of the conservation work in Dzanga-Sangha ever since. Habituation has started in Campo Ma'an since 4 years. 

A variety of methods are used to investigate the spread of zoonotic pathogens in the natural habitat, such as collecting monthly faecal and urine samples from the gorillas and, less frequently, from mangabeys, collecting vectors such as carrion flies, and regularly taking swab and necropsy samples from carcasses. These are then analysed in the field laboratory.

Conservation and ecotourism employees and their families receive annual health checkups and vaccinations, and are closely monitored in suspected cases.

The establishment of the interactive system between the site, managers, and visitors

Establish a professional platform for meteorological research and phenological phenomena forecasting, combined with a real-time image capturing and recognizing system.