D.R. Congo > Programme description
1. How long has Medair been in the country?
Medair has been active in the country since before the conflict began in 1996 when we worked to support refugees from South Sudan. In 1997, we opened our first programme to support the health care of the Congolese. We are one of the most trusted international NGOs in the region because of our longstanding involvement and the wide geographical coverage of our health services programme. Medair remained active right through the inter-ethnic conflict in Bunia in 2003.
2. What is Medair doing in the country?
Medair is active in three sectors:
Health: Our overall objective is to improve the health status of the population in the areas we serve. We do this by supporting almost 200 health structures in vulnerable areas of northeastern D.R. Congo, improving the quality of care by training the staff in the health centres, providing essential medical equipment, and ensuring a good supply of medicines. For displaced people and especially vulnerable host populations, we subsidise the cost of health care. We also offer medical and psychosocial support to victims of sexual violence.
WASH: Our objective is to improve access to potable water, improve sanitation facilities, and promote safe hygiene practices in Ango Territory. We do this through the construction/rehabilitation of hand-dug wells and the protection of springs, construction of community latrines, and behaviour change training within the population. In concert with our health project in Ango, we improve health services provided by health centres through construction of latrines, bathrooms, and waste management facilities such as incinerators and waste pits at health centres.
Shelter and Infrastructure: Our overall objective is to improve road access for humanitarian transportation from Isiro to the isolated Ango Territory. To achieve this, we are constructing 12 new bridges and rehabilitating three dilapidated ones on the Isiro-Ango road.
3. Where are we working?
Woman with her child in a clinic
- Ituri District:
Isolated violent outbreaks continue in this district. We are working in Boga, Gety, and Komanda areas where there are high numbers of displaced persons and returnees. However, the bulk of our programme is shifting to LRA-affected areas in the north of the province. - Haut and Bas-Uélés Districts:
In Haut and Bas-Uélés Districts, Medair supports the Congolese health system in 196 health structures across 11 health zones. Every month, 38,000 patients are treated in a catchment area of 1,200,000 people.
4. How many people are working for Medair in D.R Congo?
Medair employs approximately 17 internationally recruited staff (IRS) and more than 115 nationally recruited staff (NRS) in D.R. Congo.
