[Slideshow] Fighting a Years-Long Measles Epidemic in Congo

next DRC 2013 © Tristan Pfund/MSF A measles epidemic that began in 2010 and affected the entire country continues to sicken tens of thousands of children in northern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). # prev | next DRC 2013 © Tristan Pfund/MSF The epidemic has spread to areas recently hit by a malaria outbreak between May and September 2012, causing exceptionally high mortality rates among children under five years old. # prev | next DRC 2013 © Tristan Pfund/MSF This epidemic has proven particularly deadly among the very young and the population’s needs have outstripped the capacities of the Congolese health system. # prev | next DRC 2013 © Tristan Pfund/MSF Even health facilities that do have supplies must deal with frequent medicine stock-outs and major staff shortages. # prev | next DRC 2013 © Tristan Pfund/MSF “We’re trying to find solutions to save lives by any means possible because we have no supplies,” said Dr. Mukambula, medical director of the hospital in Titulé, Orientale Province. "We don’t have anything." # prev | next DRC 2013 © Tristan Pfund/MSF The vast majority of the population lives below the poverty line and most of the care that is available comes with fees attached. Many people, therefore, do not seek medical attention when they get sick ...
Source: MSF Multimedia - Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news