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Emergency every day in the Democratic Republic of Congo Historic elections held in 2006 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) should put an end to nearly ten years of conflict and instability in a country the size of Western Europe. These political developments, although decisive, cannot be more than a starting point, a prior condition to a sustainable improvement of the humanitarian situation. In the field, the teams of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in DRC continue to be confronted by an emergency situation every day. In Katanga, lives to rebuild The MSF medical teams are following these people to their villages in order to provide them with humanitarian assistance and free health care. This is an essential service but these people will still have their entire lives to rebuild. Outbreaks In Kikwit, Bandundu Province (east of Kinshasa), up to 30 deaths and 1,500 cases of typhoid fever have been reported since mid-August 2006. In order to halt this serious epidemic, MSF ensures free treatment for patients and raises awareness among the population about basic hygiene practices. Typhoid fever is linked to a structural problem in terms of supply of quality water in Kikwit, combined with the bad hygiene conditions in which most of the population lives. "To prevent future typhoid fever epidemics in Kikwit, the task ahead is immense and requires a long-term investment, which is not of the competence of an organisation like MSF," says Yvan Hildebrand, Head of Mission of the Belgian section of MSF in DRC. In eastern Maniema Province, the PUC has been fighting several measles outbreaks in the areas of Kasongo, Kibombo, Samba and Kunda since July. In total, MSF has treated up to 4,000 people and has supported vaccination activities. In Kimpangu, Bas-Congo Province, and also in Malemba, Katanga Province, the PUC teams are confronted with cholera; 77 cases with 6 deaths in Kimpangu and 180 cases with 5 deaths in Malemba. In several regions of Congo the rainy season facilitates the emergence of cholera, a disease transmitted through contaminated water and food. Poor access to health It will be a long time before Congo is no longer a humanitarian emergency. In November 2005, a report released by MSF, ‘Access to healthcare, mortality and violence in the DRC’, described a catastrophic health situation in many parts of the country, and not only in areas affected by conflict. Excess mortality, absence of medical care, and exclusion from care for a majority of patients where it does exist… Far from improving, the situation has worsened in certain regions of the country over the last few years. This is due to a lack of human resources and medicines, poor work conditions for health staff, bad or even inexistent roads, etc. "Most of the time, the financial obstacle is the main barrier to access to health care, even when the charge is a very low flat fee contribution," explains Hildebrand. "Most Congolese live in harsh poverty conditions and have to survive on an average of 0.30 USD per person per day. For this reason, MSF offers free of charge care and continues to insist that full access to quality health care has to be guaranteed for the Congolese population." MSF has worked in the DRC since 1981. Today, MSF More than 2,000 Congolese staff work alongside 150 international staff to bring medical assistance to the Congolese population, with around twenty programmes across the country. Read other articles on Democratic Republic Congo
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