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Depuis sa création, l'association a placé l'urgence au coeur de ses préoccupations.Ces missions, à la différence des missions de long terme, se substituent, ponctuellement, au système de santé anéanti par une catastrophe ou une guerre.

Communiqué de presse   kenya : Médecins du Monde has launched an emergency mission for the persons internally displaced by post-election violence


Paris, February 13, 2008

Médecins du Monde has launched this week an emergency mission in the Rift Valley to ensure the provision of healthcare for the displaced population who remains out of reach for the humanitarian aid until now.

The waves of post-election violence which shook Kenya since the beginning of January have caused the displacement of 600 000 people divided in 296 camps and gathering sites. The majority of the internally displaced people (IDPs) is concentrated around police stations, schools and churches, where the care and the supplies are ensured. Because of the remaining ethnic tensions, many people still remain isolated and deprived from access to healthcare.

Médecins du Monde has launched this week an emergency mission to help these IDPs, gathered in isolated zones and who did not have access to humanitarian aid until now. MdM intervenes for the 4 500 IDPs divided in Solai, Ol Banata and Bahati, localities located in the neighbourhood of Nakuru, 150 km away from Nairobi. A medical team ensures primary health care as well as provision of psychological care, with private mobile clinics.

The majority of these people are women and children, primarily exposed to respiratory pathologies, diarrhoea, malaria and post-traumatic stress. The pregnant women are prone to strong risks of obstetrical and neonatal complications, and elderly people are not treated any more for their chronic diseases.

“We will also work for the reestablishment of the link between the IDPs and national health centres in collaboration with the Kenyan Medical Association and the Kenyan Red Cross. The objective is to ensure access to healthcare without discrimination and whatever the ethnic origins. The presence of our teams on the field will also make it possible to report the possible violence against local populations.” considers Jerome Larché, doctor of the MdM mission in Kenya.

Should you wish to be in touch with our teams on the field, please contact the press department.
Press Contacts :
Florence Priolet/ Celine Morel
+33 1 44 92 14 31/14.32 - +33 6 09 17 35 59
www.medecinsdumonde.org