Joseph Appiah-Dolphyne and Kent Mensah, AfricaNews editors in Accra, Ghana Photo: Christophe Rigaud
About 250, 000 people have fled the spiralling conflict in North Kivu in the east of the DRC. The escalation of hostilities has worsened the difficult situation of more than one million people already living without clean water, food and access to health care, according to World Health Organization.
The impact of armed violence on the population goes much beyond the risk of injuries but also it impacts on their access to all vital needs, a press release on Tuesday to AfricaNews stated.
The release said: “Communicable diseases are a major challenge throughout the DRC. The country has one of the world’s highest maternal and infant mortality rates. Diseases of immediate concern are measles, cholera and other diarrhoeas as well as acute respiratory infections.”
“However, malaria accounts for 45 percent of infant mortality and other diseases known to be present include trypanosomiasis, yellow fever, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS,” it added.
The WHO plans to reduce the immediate risk of death and illness arising from violence, malnutrition, communicable diseases and lack of health care, it stated. According to the release the health organization plans to expand outreach of health services and access to quality health care for the majority of the affected population, in the short and medium term, as security improves.
The UN body said there is a serious risk of cholera outbreaks which has become endemic in the area. At least a thousand cases have been reported since the beginning of October and risk of people having the disease is increasing.
On November 8th, 28 suspected cases were reported in Goma, Kibati and Rutshuru.
WHO’s assistance
WHO, UNICEF and the Government’s provincial inspection unit have started vaccinating children under five against measles in Kirotshe. Merlin and WHO are training health staff in Karisimbi on management of cholera cases.
The International Medical Corps (IMC) and Merlin are carrying out medical screening of displaced people in Goma and surrounding areas.
The governments of Italy and Norway have already provided in-kind contributions of health supplies valued at more than $1 million. Cash needs for the next three months are estimated at US$ 2.6 million. The Government of Australia has already provided Aus$ 500 000 of that amount.
The WHO is also strengthening and repairing systems and building capacities of both the Government and of international partners, in turn aiming to address this crisis by means of a sustainable health systems approach, including disseminating national health guidance and protocols to partners.
WHO is also deploying additional international staff and security equipment to reinforce its presence in North Kivu of that country.
About 250, 000 people have fled the spiralling conflict in North Kivu in the east of the DRC. The escalation of hostilities has worsened the difficult situation of more than one million people already living without clean water, food and access to health care, according to World Health Organization.
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