Back from Congo, in the States, where next?

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!