Operational support for the implementation of environmental control measures for Cholera epidemics in the Democratic Republic of Congo, World Health Organisation,  April 2018

The Democratic Republic of Congo suffered a wave of epidemic in 2018 throughout its territory. These recurring epidemics are due to the lack of health infrastructures, the extreme poverty of the populations in a situation all the more precarious as local and regional conflicts prevent the development of the health system. In this context, WHO has initiated a nationwide emergency response in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and with the support of international humanitarian organisations.

Our mission was to discuss the operational strategies to be put in place according to the epidemiological context. We have thus been able to differentiate several types of actions to be carried out. On the Congo River in the island areas where access to water is very low and where we proposed to privilege vaccination. In the Kivu, in endemic areas, we analyzed the need for chlorination of drinking water and facilitated the implementation of the grid strategy developed by the national program for the eradication of cholera (PNECHOL). Review of the budget plan related to this objective. The same remote support was brought for the Kasaï outbreak. We have also provided technical support in carrying out epidemiological control activities, including the mapping of entry points around Kinshasa and the review of hygiene procedures in treatment centres.