Mission Democratic Republic of Congo

After the pillaging of 1992, which led to the collapse of all public structures, this vast country with impressive mineral wealth has been through two wars since 1996. This is the largest humanitarian crisis since the Second World War: nearly 4 million Congolese have died from common illnesses (malaria, diarrhoeic illnesses, measles, etc) through lack of access to care in this widespread climate of insecurity; 20 million are malnourished. After three years of prevarication, the international community has been mobilised in a big way to support the political transition through the United Nations' largest peacekeeping mission, which should make the next elections safe.

Programme for an integrated fight against HIV

Goma

Activities:

The work aims to respond in an integrated way to the AIDS epidemic in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo which has been particularly affected by the war. The activities are as follows:

• strengthening the capacities of those involved in local institutions and in civil society in the fight against HIV, strengthening co-ordination between the different parties;
• supporting social involvement and prevention activities;
• running three sexually transmitted infections treatment services;
• running a voluntary, anonymous and free screening centre;
• running a treatment service for HIV-positive patients; medical and psychosocial monitoring, prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections, access to antiretroviral drugs.

Outlook:

Continue the activities that have been started and developed in order to consolidate them.

Supporting street children

Kinshasa

Activities:

The programme is pursuing its objectives which are to reintegrate and resocialise street children through:
• quality reception in a specialist centre: Pekabo;
• psychosocial support, educational activities (educational theatre: Tam-tam), reintegrating children into families, PHC. MdM is extending its programme on STIs/AIDS amongst vulnerable children and especially street girls, through treating STIs and HIV prevention. We are strengthening our networking with all the child reintegration organisations working at the same time on the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Outlook:

As well as continuing our current activities, organise night visits for educators, extend theSTI/AIDS programme amongst street children, make the Pekabo reception centre autonomous, and strengthen the partnership with Africare (make the network dynamic, design work tools to deal better with the healthcare and reintegration of street children in DRC).

Fighting against epidemics

Kalemie and Kongolo - North Katanga Province, Tanganyika Province

Activities:

Reacting to epidemic emergencies (cholera, measles, meningitis and shigellosis) is effective, and especially the prevention of cholera involving chlorinating water supply points in Kongolo and Kalemie thanks to local chlorine production. This novel activity was developed through a joint venture with a Swiss company who supplied the equipment needed. The process has been extended successfully to Kalemie. The early warning system is in operation. The curative treatment of cases is provided by cholera treatment centres in Kongolo and Kalemie and in the health centres of Kalemie health area, mainly thanks to staff training and the regular supply of the necessary inputs.

Outlook:

In the long term, continue to develop the preventive and curative activities so that morbidity and mortality rates improve for the epidemic diseases being monitored, thanks especially to close monitoring and the provision of the necessary inputs.

Providing access to quality healthcare

Kongolo (North Katanga)

Activities:

As part of community involvement, the project aims to provide access to quality healthcare in 25 health centres and 5 advance health posts in Kongolo area. Five aspects are being developed:

• setting up a minimum set of activities in health training responding to national PHC standards;
• providing essential drugs, consumables and equipment;
• strengthening the capacities of the area's central office;
• training health centre staff;
• epidemiological monitoring and fight against epidemics
  including cholera.

Outlook:

Develop current activities through strengthening existing work and as a stronger response to epidemics and treatment of STIs (sexually transmitted infections)

Developing medical services

Kalemie (North Katanga)

Activities:

As part of this project, MdM is organising:

• the signing and implementation of a memorandum of understanding with the health authorities;
• light renovation/equipping and restoration of the technical side of functional health structures;
• building and equipping of two health centres with the involvement of the population in the villages of Mulange and Fatuma (Kalemie health area);
• monthly supply of mosquito nets treated with insecticides and of drugs;
• replenishment of traditional midwives' kits;
• supervising activities to monitor the quality of healthcare, health centre performance, and staff development with respect to rational instructions and treating cases;
• a workshop for monitoring health activities in the two health
  areas each quarter;
• supplying screening tests, consumables for transfusions and equipment for use in the fight against HIV.

Outlook:

Develop current activities by strengthening existing work and as a stronger response to epidemics.

November 2006