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Alarming increase in epidemics in Masisi: alert at Rubaya hospital
Published on Fri, 14/11/2025 - 14:09 | Modified on Fri, 14/11/2025 - 14:09
François Ntambara Bwenge, head nurse at the Rubaya reference health center in the health zone of the same name, Masisi territory (North Kivu), is warning of a worrying increase in epidemics since last June. These include outbreaks of measles, M-pox, and cholera.
Speaking about the measles epidemic, he points out that to date, about twenty measles patients are hospitalized while several others remain in the community where they are treated by traditional healers and quack pharmacists from the villages with all the risks of contamination.
This health official also mentions other challenges related in particular to the insufficient capacity to provide care in terms of isolation structures, but also access to patients dispersed in the community.
Mass population movements exacerbate epidemics.
The organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in North Kivu confirms all this information. Dr. Toussaint Chankoma, MSF's measles medical officer in the Kirotshe and Katoy health zones, adds that this situation is exacerbated by the frequent displacement of families due to armed conflict, making it difficult to reach the target population during mass vaccination opportunities.
The doctor laments that "These constant movements also facilitate the spread of measles from one area to another, complicating the control of epidemics and the guarantee of homogeneous vaccination coverage. These comorbidities, notably severe malnutrition in 12% of cases, worsen the severity of the disease and complicate the treatment of patients with measles."
Population mobility, particularly in the context of persistent insecurity in the Democratic Republic of Congo, promotes the rapid spread of measles between different regions, making effective epidemic management and uniform vaccination difficult.
“ These constant movements also facilitate the spread of measles from one area to another, complicating the control of epidemics and ensuring consistent vaccination coverage. Many patients received in our facilities have associated illnesses, including malnutrition and severe illness, which represent 12% of the comorbidities of the cases we receive in our facilities, ” laments Dr. Toussaint Chankoma.
MSF also specifies that access to some villages remains difficult due to either insecurity or the poor condition of the road, which constitutes another major obstacle to the delivery of medical equipment and the rapid deployment of medical teams.
“For example, logistical constraints are slowing down the arrival of medical supplies in the affected areas, requiring coordination between several partners to overcome access difficulties ,” says Dr. Toussaint Chankoma, MSF’s measles medical officer in the Kirotshe and Katoy health zones.
https://www.radiookapi.net/2025/11/...es-epidemies-masisi-alerte-lhopital-de-rubaya
Alarming increase in epidemics in Masisi: alert at Rubaya hospital
Published on Fri, 14/11/2025 - 14:09 | Modified on Fri, 14/11/2025 - 14:09
François Ntambara Bwenge, head nurse at the Rubaya reference health center in the health zone of the same name, Masisi territory (North Kivu), is warning of a worrying increase in epidemics since last June. These include outbreaks of measles, M-pox, and cholera.
Speaking about the measles epidemic, he points out that to date, about twenty measles patients are hospitalized while several others remain in the community where they are treated by traditional healers and quack pharmacists from the villages with all the risks of contamination.
This health official also mentions other challenges related in particular to the insufficient capacity to provide care in terms of isolation structures, but also access to patients dispersed in the community.
Mass population movements exacerbate epidemics.
The organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in North Kivu confirms all this information. Dr. Toussaint Chankoma, MSF's measles medical officer in the Kirotshe and Katoy health zones, adds that this situation is exacerbated by the frequent displacement of families due to armed conflict, making it difficult to reach the target population during mass vaccination opportunities.
The doctor laments that "These constant movements also facilitate the spread of measles from one area to another, complicating the control of epidemics and the guarantee of homogeneous vaccination coverage. These comorbidities, notably severe malnutrition in 12% of cases, worsen the severity of the disease and complicate the treatment of patients with measles."
Population mobility, particularly in the context of persistent insecurity in the Democratic Republic of Congo, promotes the rapid spread of measles between different regions, making effective epidemic management and uniform vaccination difficult.
“ These constant movements also facilitate the spread of measles from one area to another, complicating the control of epidemics and ensuring consistent vaccination coverage. Many patients received in our facilities have associated illnesses, including malnutrition and severe illness, which represent 12% of the comorbidities of the cases we receive in our facilities, ” laments Dr. Toussaint Chankoma.
MSF also specifies that access to some villages remains difficult due to either insecurity or the poor condition of the road, which constitutes another major obstacle to the delivery of medical equipment and the rapid deployment of medical teams.
“For example, logistical constraints are slowing down the arrival of medical supplies in the affected areas, requiring coordination between several partners to overcome access difficulties ,” says Dr. Toussaint Chankoma, MSF’s measles medical officer in the Kirotshe and Katoy health zones.
https://www.radiookapi.net/2025/11/...es-epidemies-masisi-alerte-lhopital-de-rubaya