Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
Translation Google
CAR: contain the measles epidemic and save lives
December 06, 2023
Bangassou – Nabila Lucie, 67, looks thoughtful and sits in the courtyard of the Bangassou district hospital, 750 km from Bangui. For six days, she has been at the bedside of her little daughters Linda, 20 months, and Silvie, 24 months. Hospitalized because of high fever, skin rashes and conjunctivitis, the two girls were diagnosed positive for measles.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that is transmitted through the air. It leads to serious complications and even death. Young children not protected by vaccination are more at risk.
Since the start of the year, the Central African Republic (CAR) has been facing an outbreak of measles cases. 14 health districts out of 35 are affected, including Bangassou, one of the centers of the disease which records 742 cases. Nationally, the country has 1,524 cases and children under 10 years old represent 82% of cases. In addition, 7% of children aged 0 to 11 months are not yet vaccinated against measles, according to dynamic data from routine vaccination from January to October 2023.
This epidemic occurs in a difficult socio-economic context due to the armed conflict in the CAR, increasing the pressure on the already fragile health system.
For a coordinated response, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners are supporting the Ministry of Health and Population through the supply of medicines and medical consumables. Response activities against the measles epidemic are primarily focused on strengthening epidemiological surveillance through active case finding in health facilities.
The community-based epidemiological surveillance system is reinforced by electronic surveillance carried out by 70 trained community relays equipped with smartphones equipped with an “auto-visual” detection application AVADAR (Auto-visual AFP Detection and Reporting), developed by the WHO Africa with the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Bank. This mode of surveillance makes it possible to direct detected cases to treatment centers.
Due to the risk of contamination, the Bangassou district hospital has modified the patient circuit at the triage level. Patients showing signs of measles are sent directly to isolation and confirmed cases are put on treatment. Free care for patients is made easier thanks to the support of partners, notably the WHO, with funding from the German government and the CFE emergency situation fund.
“Since we arrived here, my two granddaughters have been followed day and night. The treatment and medicines are free and that gives us a lot of relief,” notes grandmother Nabila.
At the other end of the site, adds Josué Komadame, whose one-year-old twins are suffering from measles. “If it was paid for, I was going to lose my children. Fortunately, the nurses offer us medicines and everything for free. »
Dr Vianey Ludovic Gounouman, chief physician at the Bangassou regional and university hospital, recognizes the impact of partner support. “This support is really essential in case management. The measles kits offered by WHO, including antibiotics and other essential medicines, in addition to personal protective equipment, are helping us a lot and are being managed rationally. »
In addition to surveillance, referral and medical care, community awareness and vaccination constitute the main axes of the CAR's response. From November 16 to 21, a vaccination campaign was held which made it possible to protect 10,914 children in the commune of Bangassou. At the national level, the country plans to vaccinate 1,240,840 children aged 6 to 59 months during the next national immunization days scheduled for December 8 to 16, 2023.
On the ground, the district management team benefits from WHO support in the areas of epidemiological surveillance, risk communication and community engagement. “We provide our expertise in the investigation of suspected cases, samples and their transmission to the Pasteur Institute in Bangui,” indicates Dr. Jean Pierre Banga-Mingo, head of the WHO sub-office in Bangassou. The Organization also supports community mobilization and communication through motorized caravans bringing together around thirty multi-sector partners. The goal is to raise awareness and raise awareness among communities about this measles epidemic, mainly due to low vaccination coverage.
Efforts are also underway to strengthen local coordination, the development of the operational response plan and vaccination with a view to curbing the expansion of the epidemic. “The major challenge today remains the prompt response to this epidemic. Only community-wide vaccination is the most effective way to contain the epidemic,” explains Dr Aymard Desnos Namssenmoh, chief medical officer of the Bangassou health district.
In addition to this support in the response to the measles epidemic, WHO also provided five tonnes of medicines, medical equipment and personal protective equipment to improve the provision of health care and better prepare health facilities. of Bangassou district to respond promptly to health emergencies and save lives.
In addition to measles, the Bangassou health district occasionally faces cases of monkeypox. Many cases of dog bites are also recorded there.
https://www.afro.who.int/fr/countri...ies?country=906&name=Central African Republic
CAR: contain the measles epidemic and save lives
December 06, 2023
Bangassou – Nabila Lucie, 67, looks thoughtful and sits in the courtyard of the Bangassou district hospital, 750 km from Bangui. For six days, she has been at the bedside of her little daughters Linda, 20 months, and Silvie, 24 months. Hospitalized because of high fever, skin rashes and conjunctivitis, the two girls were diagnosed positive for measles.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that is transmitted through the air. It leads to serious complications and even death. Young children not protected by vaccination are more at risk.
Since the start of the year, the Central African Republic (CAR) has been facing an outbreak of measles cases. 14 health districts out of 35 are affected, including Bangassou, one of the centers of the disease which records 742 cases. Nationally, the country has 1,524 cases and children under 10 years old represent 82% of cases. In addition, 7% of children aged 0 to 11 months are not yet vaccinated against measles, according to dynamic data from routine vaccination from January to October 2023.
This epidemic occurs in a difficult socio-economic context due to the armed conflict in the CAR, increasing the pressure on the already fragile health system.
For a coordinated response, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners are supporting the Ministry of Health and Population through the supply of medicines and medical consumables. Response activities against the measles epidemic are primarily focused on strengthening epidemiological surveillance through active case finding in health facilities.
The community-based epidemiological surveillance system is reinforced by electronic surveillance carried out by 70 trained community relays equipped with smartphones equipped with an “auto-visual” detection application AVADAR (Auto-visual AFP Detection and Reporting), developed by the WHO Africa with the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Bank. This mode of surveillance makes it possible to direct detected cases to treatment centers.
Due to the risk of contamination, the Bangassou district hospital has modified the patient circuit at the triage level. Patients showing signs of measles are sent directly to isolation and confirmed cases are put on treatment. Free care for patients is made easier thanks to the support of partners, notably the WHO, with funding from the German government and the CFE emergency situation fund.
“Since we arrived here, my two granddaughters have been followed day and night. The treatment and medicines are free and that gives us a lot of relief,” notes grandmother Nabila.
At the other end of the site, adds Josué Komadame, whose one-year-old twins are suffering from measles. “If it was paid for, I was going to lose my children. Fortunately, the nurses offer us medicines and everything for free. »
Dr Vianey Ludovic Gounouman, chief physician at the Bangassou regional and university hospital, recognizes the impact of partner support. “This support is really essential in case management. The measles kits offered by WHO, including antibiotics and other essential medicines, in addition to personal protective equipment, are helping us a lot and are being managed rationally. »
In addition to surveillance, referral and medical care, community awareness and vaccination constitute the main axes of the CAR's response. From November 16 to 21, a vaccination campaign was held which made it possible to protect 10,914 children in the commune of Bangassou. At the national level, the country plans to vaccinate 1,240,840 children aged 6 to 59 months during the next national immunization days scheduled for December 8 to 16, 2023.
On the ground, the district management team benefits from WHO support in the areas of epidemiological surveillance, risk communication and community engagement. “We provide our expertise in the investigation of suspected cases, samples and their transmission to the Pasteur Institute in Bangui,” indicates Dr. Jean Pierre Banga-Mingo, head of the WHO sub-office in Bangassou. The Organization also supports community mobilization and communication through motorized caravans bringing together around thirty multi-sector partners. The goal is to raise awareness and raise awareness among communities about this measles epidemic, mainly due to low vaccination coverage.
Efforts are also underway to strengthen local coordination, the development of the operational response plan and vaccination with a view to curbing the expansion of the epidemic. “The major challenge today remains the prompt response to this epidemic. Only community-wide vaccination is the most effective way to contain the epidemic,” explains Dr Aymard Desnos Namssenmoh, chief medical officer of the Bangassou health district.
In addition to this support in the response to the measles epidemic, WHO also provided five tonnes of medicines, medical equipment and personal protective equipment to improve the provision of health care and better prepare health facilities. of Bangassou district to respond promptly to health emergencies and save lives.
In addition to measles, the Bangassou health district occasionally faces cases of monkeypox. Many cases of dog bites are also recorded there.
https://www.afro.who.int/fr/countri...ies?country=906&name=Central African Republic