Congo : Remote DRC province has unique challenges when treating measles epidemic

From MSF (Medicins Sans Frontieres) in their efforst of treating measles in Congo, excerpt :

" "Maniema is a logistical challenge," said Roudy Jeantal, an MSF logistician. The infrastructure is in poor condition, which makes it difficult to reach the sites and discourages many health care actors from organizing programs in this part of the country. MSF is among the few present in the province today.

Organizing and treating in an emergency

Since late March, MSF teams, working with the Ministry of the Health, have set up eight outpatient treatment sites for patients with simple measles cases and three treatment centres for complicated cases in the health care regions of Kibombo and Samba, the most affected areas in the province of Maniema. A team also provides regular support to the Tchuki referral centre, in the Kabambare health zone, in the eastern part of the province.

"We had to rely on community networks and medical staff to inform the population that we were here because most people did not seek treatment at medical facilities," said Dr. Bobo Makoso, MSF medical coordinator in Maniema. "The community awareness efforts worked well. In Likeri, for example, patient visits rose from approximately 30 to more than 100 per day."

Since launching its activities, MSF has treated more than 2,000 patients across all sites. Nearly 250 of them required hospitalization.

Overcoming logistical challenges to reach the population

"Maniema is a logistical challenge," said Roudy Jeantal, an MSF logistician. The infrastructure is in poor condition, which makes it difficult to reach the sites and discourages many health care actors from organizing programs in this part of the country. MSF is among the few present in the province today."