Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville)

After more than a decade of war and unrest, a peace treaty was signed between rebels and the government of the Republic of congo in 2003. Although remnants of civil war militias, known as ninjas, remain active in the southern pool region, the situation is no longer considered an emergency and MSF has started handing over its projects.

 

MSF has continued to provide support to hospitals and community health clinics in Kindamba, Mindouli and Vindza districts. Medical services include ante, post-natal and emergency obstetric care, health education, HIV counseling and treatment, tuberculosis and malaria treatment, and psychosocial counseling. Over 75,000 patients were treated in the outpatient departments in 2006 in both hospitals and mobile clinics, and over 4,300 patients treated in the hospitals.

 

Decrease in sleeping sickness

 

In 2006/2007, MSF treated patients affected by Human African Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), through a mobile clinic. The team screened 22,059 people in the districts of Cuvette, Pool and Bouenza and found 220 patients requiring treatment.

 

The programme was evaluated in 2007, as the disease was eradicated from many areas and fewer people were contracting sleeping sickness.

 

MSF will continue to provide care in early 2008 for patients still affected by the disease.

 

Cholera outbreak

 

MSF launched an emergency response to a cholera outbreak in Pointe Noire and Brazzaville at the beginning of 2007. MSF supported the Ministry of Health (MoH) by treating patients at the hospital, providing cholera treatment units and oral rehydration points. By April, MSF had treated approximately 4,000 people and trained MoH staff on how to run and manage a cholera treatment centre. In 2008, MSF will continue to transfer programmes to the MoH and other service providers wherever possible.