We finished
our measles project in the Equateur Province of Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire). We vaccinated in one 1 of the 4 health zones
in the district of Mongala – 81 000 children in 11 days. We probably should have vaccinated in another
zone, but the rainy season had started, and the logistical issues (air delivery
of the vaccines, ground transportation, site preparation) proved to be too much
for us in this case.
We did,
however do case management in all four zones, from end of January through 20
April. We helped treat over 9 000 cases
of measles in the 81 health centers in the district, and distributed over
11 000 treatments (covering cases after our departure. We also helped treat severe or complicated
cases in the hospitals in the area – 346 cases during this time.
It was a
good intervention, but we left hoping that another partner can take over our
work, as the epidemy is not yet completed.
Closing the
project is always interesting. We had
very few staff ourselves, working with the Congolese government health
system. But we had a few, and I had to
manage their layoffs. I had several
visits from the labor office, and the staff tried to get more layoff benefits,
but finally, everyone realized that we had followed the legal procedures as we
should.
Another
consideration was Bob – the baby orphan chimpanzee adopted by the team. What to do with him? Fortunately, one of our drivers adopted him.
The last 8
of us all left on the same day on a plane operated by the International Red
Cross and Doctors Without Borders in partnership. The Bumba airstrip is a dirt runway, and this
plane had already refused to land a couple of times because the runway was not
in good shape. It had rained the night
before, so one of our logisticians who REALLY wanted to get home got up at 5:00
with a work crew to evacuate the water, fill holes and generally make sure that
the plane would land. Success! They did.
We flew to
the capital of Kinshasa
for some meetings before the others left.
I stayed 4 days waiting for a flight to Goma on the east side, to hand
over our documents and reports to the team there. Then I was driven to Kigali
in Rwanda to catch my flight
back to France.
I have been
in Congo
too long! While processing my departure
with the migration office in Bumba, I had 2 people I had worked with on the
east side of the country, who were on the same plane but from a different pick
up point, who entered to greet me. When
we landed in Mbandaka, I was greeted by a Congolese lady whom I had met at a
party during my arrival flights. While
in Kinshasa, I saw one of my close doctor
friends who had just returned from Chad. And while walking, I ran into a guardian who
used to work with us there. When I left Kinshasa for Goma, I
found a Congolese doctor friend with whom I had worked many years ago, who now
works for the Red Cross. And of course,
having stayed in Goma for 2 years, arriving there was like finding my family. I was very fortunate to refind a friend with
whom I had lost contact for several years, due to having my email account
pirated. I thought I would never be able
to contact him again, but through a mutual friend, we got back in contact. I only stayed 2 days there, but it was
wonderful.
Upon
arriving in Paris,
I had my debriefings on a Friday afternoon.
Saturday, I did my laundry, because it was 9 days since we had closed
the Bumba project and gotten on the first plane. Then, Sunday I flew to Jeffersonville Indiana
to be with my family. It has been 3
years since I was here. That is where I
am now, and it is wonderful to see my brothers and their families again. I left here when I started my studies 41
years ago, but I have already found a few people outside of the family that I
know. We will try to get the brothers
and as much of their families as possible together this weekend.
Then Monday
13 May, I leave to return to my place in Lyon. I should probably have about 1 week there
before heading out again somewhere, although nothing is definite. It will be interesting being there – I lent
the apartment to a Tanzanian friend just before leaving, and we will be sharing
the 170 square foot
space while I am there. It should be
interesting!
