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. 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.
2. What is Medair doing in the country?
Medair’s main goal in D.R. Congo is to support the improvement of the health status of the population, particularly in the remote and vulnerable areas of northeast Congo that are affected by the ongoing socio-economic crisis and continued localised conflicts. We are particularly focused on providing emergency primary health care in zones where there are large numbers of IDPs and where basic health needs are not being met. We also provide psychosocial support to conflict-traumatised people and victims of sexual violence, especially children.
The principle objective of the programme is to decrease the death rate from common diseases and epidemics of infectious disease. We increase access to health services for IDPs through the provision of free care, along with essential maternal and child health care services, and training for health staff to improve clinic management and hygiene.
3. Where are we working?
Woman with her child in a clinic
- Ituri District:
Isolated violent outbreaks continue in this district. Where necessary, Medair endeavours to respond to needs on the scale that they occur. However the bulk of our programme is shifting to the more needy 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 297 health structures across 14 health zones. Every year, 384,000 patients are treated (an average of 32,000 per month) in a catchment area of 1,200,000 people.
This programme will continue during 2010, but it will diminish in size in order to reach LRA-affected areas in the north.
Medair increasingly works hand-in-hand with other emergency health NGOs to ensure that LRA-affected people are fully covered.
4. How many people are working for Medair in DRC?
Medair employs approximately eight internationally recruited staff (IRS) and over 110 nationally recruited staff (NRS) in D.R. Congo.