Ivo Ngade is a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Gender and Africa Studies at the University of the Free State in South Africa and a visiting professor of anthropology and ethnography in Africa at Ghent University in Belgium. In 2014, he received his Ph.D. from the department of African languages and cultures at Ghent University. Ngade’s research focuses on behavioral changes during disease outbreaks, especially emerging infectious diseases (including Ebola and COVID-19), cultural changes due to technology use, and transnational migration. Follow him on Twitter @ivongade.
When public health protocols disrupt normal funeral and mourning practices, such as in Cameroon, alternative approaches need to be engaged to keep people safe while respecting the dead and their loved ones.
The legacy of colonialism in West Africa continues to impact how communities engage with public health and conservation efforts. Taking a new approach to these can increase trust and save lives.
