### The health crisis in the Biena health area: Towards a dead end?
The health situation in the Biena health area, located in the territory of Lubero in North Kivu, raises serious concerns. Since June 2024, the recurring incursions of the rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have caused an escalation of insecurity, seriously affecting the functioning of local health structures. The chief doctor of the area, Dr Valentin Kamuha Kisambi, expressed concerns about the capacity of hospitals to provide adequate care, which raises several questions about the implications of such a situation for the local population.
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The ADFs, an armed group with complex motivations, intensified their activities in this already fragile region, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis that has lasted for several years. The massive displacement of populations is an observable phenomenon in several areas affected by conflicts, but here, it is coupled with the consequences of insecurity on health infrastructure. Dr Kamuha reports that almost 75 % of health establishments have been forced to close temporarily, making access to health care more and more difficult.
This dynamic is not only an alarming statistic; It is a reflection of a daily reality for thousands of people who, for lack of available care, are in an increased vulnerability situation. The degradation of the situation since last June testifies to a disturbing trend that deserves immediate attention.
#### Implications for public health
The closure of health centers, combined with a significant drop in drug supplies, seriously compromises the ability of this area to treat current diseases as well as medical emergencies. The situation seems to have caused a vicious circle: the fear of being the victim of violence reduces access to care, which in turn worsens the conditions of health of the population. Hunger, untreated diseases and psychological challenges linked to insecurity create a worrying picture for the general well-being of the inhabitants.
Dr. Kamuha also stresses that, for a few months, the lack of humanitarian organizations on the ground still complicates the efforts of response to this crisis. If external support has often been crucial for the replenishment of medical stocks and the supervision of care, the current absence of these structures highlights the urgent need to re -evaluate humanitarian aid strategies in this region.
#### Reflections on possible solutions
Faced with such a table, several improvement avenues can be envisaged. First, it would be relevant to strengthen security in the region, not only to allow the reopening of health establishments, but also to promote a climate of trust among the population. Civilians protection mechanisms, associated with better awareness of the role of health care, could help minimize fear that often paralyzes access to care.
Then, collaboration with humanitarian organizations could be facilitated in order to create secure corridors for the delivery of medical resources. The targeted and precise intervention of these organizations could also help stabilize the situation at first, before considering a return to normal.
Finally, dialogue and mediation, both at community level and between the different state and non -state actors, prove to be essential. By tracing bridges between the different stakeholders, we can hope to reduce tensions and promote lasting and peaceful solutions.
#### Conclusion
The health crisis in the Biena health area is only a broader problem that affects North Kivu and other regions of the country. It recalls how much public health is linked to security and social stability. To overcome this dead end, it is essential to act with a sense of urgency, while cultivating an approach to dialogue which recognizes the needs and sufferings of local populations. The current situation not only requires immediate responses but also reflections on long-term solutions which aim to restore the well-being and dignity of the inhabitants of Biena.