Congo (D.R.) -- Medair's medical staff respond to a meningitis outbreak in northeast D.R. Congo.
The only health centre in Goria is a small mud hut, where underpaid staff treat sick patients from a very limited supply of medicines. At the end of March, word reached Medair that cases of bacterial meningitis were reported in two gold mines, about twenty-five kilometres from the village. In a few short days, the disease had already claimed six lives. The staff in this health zone of Gombari were ill-equipped to handle an epidemic of this magnitude, and we knew that without intervention, there was no reasonable chance for the patients to survive.
Medair's main focus in DRC is to train, support, and supervise local medical staff in hospitals of the state. However, the population we serve is at great risk when epidemics strike, since many lack their full coverage of vaccinations. So when we are informed about a new outbreak, we usually send a team to provide emergency relief, except in the rare instances when another NGO is present and able to respond. In the last few months alone, we have responded to outbreaks of plague, meningitis, and measles.
When we heard about Goria, two of our national staff members left immediately, travelling on motorbikes packed with medicines. However, it is never easy to reach remote communities in Congo. The trip took almost two days of steady driving through the heat and muddy roads.
They arrived exhausted, and were met by our medical supervisor already on-site. Our specialist for epidemics, Atobu, joined the team the morning after and began taking samples of cerebrospinal fluid, as the team assisted with critical cases and supervised the correct administration of antibiotics. In those first desperate days of an outbreak, typical working hours don't count.
After a few days of tireless work, our team could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Although ten new cases had been reported, all of them had responded well to the treatment, and there were no further deaths.
"I thank God that He sent Medair," said Biyoni, a resident of Goria, holding her little son closely. "No other NGO came into our remote region. Without Medair, my child would already be dead."
Medair recently sent another motorbike on the long trek to the village, packed with more medicines, along with a jerry can of kerosene to keep the hospital fridge running. We will continue to support the people of Gombari with the provision of essential supplies, health training, and overall medical supervision, as they recover from this deadly outbreak.
Medair brings life-saving relief and rehabilitation in disasters, conflict areas, and other crises by working alongside the most vulnerable. Its internationally recruited staff are motivated by their Christian faith to care for people in need, providing practical and compassionate support, regardless of race, religion, or politics. Founded in 1989, Medair has an unwavering commitment to bring hope to the world's most vulnerable.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
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