Overview of CAM in the Congo
The Comité d’Aide Médical has been present in the Congo since 1995. Its first projects include the following: From 1995 to 1999, the Comité d’Aide Médicale participated in the construction of classrooms at the Ecole Spéciale de Brazzaville, which is an alternative school. CAM also provided drugs to rural pharmacies in Kinkala and M’Banza-N’Ganga, the dispensaries of the Ecole Spéciale (alternative school) and the prison of Brazzaville. Furthermore, professional agriculture training was set up in partnership with the Ecole Spéciale of Brazzaville and AGRICONGO. Between August 1999 and December 2000, Comité d’Aide Médicale gave medical support to the Ecole Spéciale and from January 2000 to June 2001 the reference hospital in Dolisie was re-opened. Teaching and technical support to took place between March 2000 and March 2001 at the medical school of Dolisie .
As of December 2003, the Comité d’Aide Médicale focused its action on promoting primary health care in the Pool department, an isolated area greatly affected by civil conflict.
Activities in 2005
CAM’s activities in 2005 involved “Improving access to primary health care in the health districts of Goma Tsé Tsé and Mayama - Kindama, Pool Region, Republic of Congo” which started in the beginning of December 2003, thanks to funding from ECHO which will last until July 2005. During this period, the Comité d’Aide Médicale developped its programs developped for post-conflict emergency context, in the districts of Goma Tsé Tsé and Mayama - Kindama where it supported 10 health centers and 2 maternities (in Kibossi, Goma Tsé Tsé, Dzoumouna, Linzolo, Loumou, Mabaya and Taba for the Goma Tsé Tsé District and in Nkoué, Renéville and Mayama for the Mayama-Kindamba District).
The main activities geared towards reducing mortality by improving curative and preventative medical services included:
light rehabilitation of the 12 health structures.
distribution of medical equipment, laboratory equipment, essential drugs and reagents.
implementation and maintenance of the cold chain for vaccine distribution.
on the job training for local medical staff.
supervision of medical staff (establish incentives)
supervision of health center operations.
revival/reinforcement of Health Committees.
organize public awareness campaigns on HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted illnesses, malaria, and maternal and child health.
Results Acheived in 2005
During the project period, medical care for the patients in the health centers was improved
Health centers were operated on a regular basis (staff present both day and night with a regular supply of drugs)
Education levels of the health staff increased with continual training
Medical equipment was provided to improveme quality of care
Maternal and child health care services also improved
During this project, the Comité d’Aide Médicale placed a strong emphasis on maternal and child health, especially in the health centers. This was accomplished through the following activities:
providing regular maternal and child health services
improving the quality and security of health care provided in in these facilities.
raising awareness among the populationsabout family planning, ANC/PNC, sexually transmitted illnesses, HIV/AIDS, malaria, hygiene, etc.)
Finally the Health Committees of the 10 centers have been revitalized During the project’s final stage, the Comité d’Aide Médicale established Health Committees to prepare for a progressive cost recovery policy in the supported health facilities, in order to sustain the program.
Unfortunately, it has not been possible to ensure the transition to development. Because funding from the European Union was still not available to continue the program when funding from ECHO ended, the Comité d’Aide Médicale ensured the transition with its own funds, keeping activities to a minimum for one month. Finally, in mid-August, we received limit funding from OCHA which would support the program until the end of October. However, as the security situation seriously deteriorated in mid-October, it was not possible to distribute the medical drugs as previously planned. The CAM office closed down on the 31th of October 2005 from lack of funding. In respecitng its committments to both the donors and the beneficiaries, a meeting was held at headquarters in December, to decide how to distribute the remaining medical drugs.
Perspectives for CAM in the Pool department
Lack of supervised health centers, drug distribution, and incentives, in addition to the forced withdrawl by CAM ruined the dynamics that had been in place since December 2003. Since it was not possible to ensure the transition to development after ECHOs funding, and because the department of Pool is dealing with serious security problems, it is important to rapidly mobilize funds to guarantee emergency support (primary health care and prevention/treatment of malaria) and to save lifes. CAM is trying to find funding so that they can stay in the Pool department where the populations’ needs are immense and where its partners are waiting for CAM’s return. Disengagement from the donors is greatly affecting the communities in this isolated area, who feel abandoned without having access to the free quality health care that CAM has continuously provided for almost two years.
December 2003 - July 2005: Emergency program promoting access to primary health care in the districts of Goma Tsé Tsé and Mayama-Kidamba, Pool Department
Donor: ECHO (260 000 € from December 2003 to June 2004 and 332 390 € from August 2004 to July 2005)
Sector: health
August 2005 - October 2005 : Program promoting access to primary health care in the districts of Goma Tsé Tsé and Mayama-Kidamba, Pool Department
Donor: OCHA (50 476 USD)
Sector : health
A project has been proposed to the European Union (envelope B) and is still awaiting to be approved. Other donors will be contacted in the coming weeks for emergency funds, due to the deterioration of the situation in the Pool Department.
