Title: Health challenges in the province of North Kivu: the Kanyaruchinya health center on the front line
Introduction :
The health situation in the province of North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo remains worrying. In the midst of a context marked by armed conflict and population displacement, the Kanyaruchinya health center, supported by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), faces enormous challenges. This article highlights the alarming figures of medical consultations and the various pathologies faced by medical teams in the field.
An increase in medical consultations:
From July 2022 to the end of June 2023, the Kanyaruchinya health center recorded no less than 82,229 medical consultations. These consultations mainly concern diseases such as malaria, scabies, diarrhea and respiratory infections. But beyond these common pathologies, the health center is also confronted with cases of sexual violence, care for pregnant women and victims of road accidents.
A response to the humanitarian crisis:
These alarming figures are directly linked to the resurgence of armed conflict in the province of North Kivu. With the massive influx of new displaced families, health care needs have tripled. The Kanyaruchinya health center had to adapt its care and increase the number of daily consultations to meet this growing demand.
The fight against epidemics:
Beyond medical consultations, the Kanyaruchinya health center has also had to deal with outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and measles. Vaccination campaigns have been put in place to fight against these epidemics and protect the population. A total of 108,949 children aged 6 months to 9 years were vaccinated against measles.
Precarious living conditions:
Despite the efforts made by MSF and the Kanyaruchinya health centre, the situation remains worrying. More than 210,000 people currently live in this health zone, in conditions deemed “unworthy” by MSF. The needs in terms of health are enormous and the health center continues to warn about the difficulties encountered on a daily basis to meet this demand.
Conclusion :
The Kanyaruchinya health center, supported by Médecins Sans Frontières, is doing essential work in a region marked by violence and precariousness. The figures for medical consultations reflect the enormous challenges that medical teams face on a daily basis. Despite these difficulties, they continue to provide vital care to a population that badly needs it