our projects: d.r. congo
Where we are, what we do and who we partner with...
...IN D. R. CONGO
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in D.R. Congo.
Project: DRC National Program
The National Leprosy Elimination Program is a specialized division of the Health Ministry. The main activities of the program will be focused on detecting ‘hidden’ cases, improving supervision, and implementing the Prevention of Disability strategy.
Project: IME Kimpese Hospital - Buruli Ulcer
IME/Kimpese Hospital is a 400-bed hospital of the Evangelical Medical Institute of Kimpese. It is located in the Songololo district in the province of Bas-Congo. IME/Kimpese serves of an estimated 160,000 people in the rural health area of Kimpese, as well as an estimated 600,000 in Bas-Congo and the rest of Angola. Buruli ulcer represents one-third of all skin ulcers admitted to the hospital. This project strives to improve Buruli ulcer control through early detection, improved patient care and reducing impairments and disabilities.
Project: Ubangi
Leprosy is still a public health problem in Ugangi where 95% of the population in rural villages are extremely poor. Unable to feed themselves and their family, they cannot afford medical care and the people affected by leprosy here suffer emotional problems. Located in the northwest part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, travel is very difficult in this area, requiring many river crossings. The roads are few and in poor condition. Ubangi is included in a national leprosy/TB control program. With 300 health centers within 27 districts, ALM supports most of a program which includes housing needs, socio-economic, spiritual rehabilitation, and a shoe workshop, as well as the associated medicines.
In summary, all of the following activies are being supported through ALM in Ubangi:
Multi-Drug Therapy
Training
Health Education; Prevention of Disability
Socio-Economic Rebilitation
Spiritual Ministry
Leprosy combined with Tuberculosis
Project: Sankuru
Sankuru has a tropical climate with a rainy and dry season. The population is relatively poor and those in the rural areas are for the most part illiterate. Access to government services is difficult. ALM emphasis in this area include Leprosy case detection and treatment; treatment of disabilities; programs to increase public awareness of leprosy and its affects, treatment and cure; and the training of health care workers. Dispensary nurses are trained in Prevention of Disabilities; Health facility nurses are trained to teach Self-Care tp leprosy-affected people and Community Volunteers are trained to aid in the detection of leprosy and to organize self-help groups.
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SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST
The United Nations refugee agency is reporting that since November, 84,000 civilians have crossed the border into ROC (Republic of Congo) seeking safety in overcrowded refugee camps. As many as 100,000 more have been displaced from their homes internally.
Once people have left their homes, there is often nothing to return to. Dr. Kongawi (ALM DRC Representative) tells us, “The sad thing is that our staff in the peripheral areas are not able to reach patients affected by leprosy who were under treatment to provide them with anti-leprosy and anti-TB medicines. Some patients have fled into the forest for safety. We can't locate exactly where they are. In addition, there is no traffic to their areas. The houses of people who fled their villages were broken into… all their belongings (dishes, beds, domestic animals, etc.) stolen. Some houses were incinerated. If they come back , they will have a very difficult time to survive.“
Please join with us in prayer for all of the people in the Democratic Republic of Congo and especially for the people affected by leprosy.