A new emergency response in Bushagara

 As the fighting rages on, Medair has been asked by the health sector to provide health care in a newly set up camp, outside of Goma, for displaced persons (IDPs) from Rutshuru territory. These are families who have been living in more informal housing (like we have talked about in previous blogs) right along the main highway into town. Some are being moved into this camp, which has been set up with better shelters, more space and a safer environment. 

Needless to say, there was a lot that needed to be done in order for Medair to begin providing health care to these IDPs. Tents were provided by the World Health Organization. The ground had to be leveled in order to put them up. Drainage

had to be dug so that water didn't run through the two tents (it is raining every day here). Supplies (like chairs, desks, cabinets, office supplies and health supplies) had to be procured and delivered to the site. Staff needed to be allocated to this new site. Medicines from our stock, as well as from the medicines which just came into Congo from Nairobi (which you prayed for) are being used to stock this new health center. Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) stations need to be set up here. And there needs to be awareness raising among the families being moved here so that they know the health facility exists, what services it will be offering and how they can benefit from those services. 

One of the prelimary tasks, which one might not think, about is the digging of a latrine. This is important for any health facility. But it is even more important for a facility which is targeting cholera prevention and treatment. The challenge in this location is that it was covered by lava from the Niyragongo volcano eruption in May 2021. So the digging of a latrine is really a challenge! On Friday this digging through lava rock was ongoing!

In our last blog we talked about the training of community health workers (CHWs) in Kibati for the cholera response. The training targetted 2 important pieces: cholera symptons, prevention and treatment at the cholera treatment center and how to run the SRO points.  Rutshuru is one of the agricultural centers for Eastern Congo. Residents had herds of cattle (which they had to leave). This is the territory from which Goma received much of its vegetable supply. The people are enterpreneurs, and very industrious. This article talks about the refugees making charcoal to sell in order to provide for their families - and the long term effect that could have on the area. 

During the training of the CHWs in Kibati, it suprised Christine to hear that they were serving a glass of milk during what we would generally call "tea break." Because these people had cows, they really prefer milk over tea and coffee. This is their preferred drink. So Medair provided milk for their, err,

A Medair ORS (SRO in French) station in Kibati 

"milk break"  (ask us sometime about production of gouda-like cheese in this area). IDPs are people like you and I, with their drink preferences, livelihoods that supported their families until they had to flee their homes (and those livelihoods) and hopes for the future - the difference is that many of these things have been put on hold by the fighting from which they now flee. 

For Christine, one of the tasks that occupied a lot of her time this past week was assuring the supplies needed for the ORS stations in Kibati for which the CHWs were trained to run. These stations will not only provide life-saving ORS to persons dehydrated by cholera, they serve as referral points to identify people needing to go to our Cholera Treatment Center (CTC). And CHWs continue with raising awareness of how people can prevent cholera. 

All these things are keeping us both busy! Thanks for walking alongside us as Medair walks alongside these people not only having to flee fighting, but also facing a cholera epidemic caused by the conditions in which they are living. We had hoped that the epidemic was subsiding earlier last week. But it is stubbornly persisting. 

Praise:

• For staff at all levels (at the bases and in the field) who largely gave up time off during the holidays and continue to work 6-7 days/week in order to care for IDPs
• Phil seems to have finally had healing from the sinus infection - and the asthma that it provoked is much better. We both walked to or from work a couple of times this past week - a good sign for him.
• Medicines and medical supplies were flown by helicopter this week to a health center in the IDP camp in Rhoo. Because of the fighting there is no way of reaching this area by road. This was a significant logistical challenge greatly aided by advocacy from the funder, ECHO. And these supplies will bring much needed relief to the IDPs there. 
• For the safety of staff working in the field, where security is uncertain and monitored constantly by Medair. 

Prayer:

• For the staff in Kibati treating cholera in the CTC and the team which will work in the community preventing cholera - for efficacy in their work and protection
• For ongoing wisdom for Christine as she provides leadership to the community engagement teams in all 3 locations - connecting well in communities is key to acceptance of Medair's presence as well as long term sustainability and ownership of this work
• Medair had a new project approved in the last couple of weeks which will see nutrition work extended to all health facilities in a couple of health zones. We will need to procure nutrition supplies urgently for this project - and the global supply chain for these supplies has been extremely contracted for the last year. We need a miracle!
• For a peace based on justice in Eastern Congo, and with its neighbors.
• For Medair to be able to respond safely to care for people who are suffering - particularly safety for our national staff who work in areas where the security situation can change rapidly