Congo struggles to treat influx of war-wounded patients
Hospitals in Eastern DRC are struggling to keep up with an influx in war-wounded patients, as M23 rebels advance on major cities.
According to AfricaNews, the conflict is worsening Congo’s already fragile healthcare system, as caring for the numbers wounds sustained becomes increasingly difficult.
34 facilities in North Kivu have been affected by the battles, with Doctors Without Borders(MSF) reporting medical facilities being struck by artillery.
These war injuries are only part of the challenges faced by DRCs hospitals, as outbreaks of infectious diseases put medical facilities under increased strain too.
Dr Jean Bruno the World Health organisation’s Bureau Chief for North Kivu, said: “The fact is we do not have enough resources, in fact financial resources to provide all the support.”
Bruno suggested “the identification, research and recovery of patients, especially infectious ones, such as those who had measles, cholera or mpox” also proves difficult for medical facilities to manage. Cholera specifically is more transmissible when conflicts damage local water and power supplies, causing people to search for unsafe alternative water sources.
The M23 rebels continue their advance towards the city of Uvira, making the healthcare situation increasingly precarious.The rebels made captures of several key cities during February, including Bukavu, and parts of Goma.
AfricaNews, Maghrebi, Doctors Without Borders
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