Slideshow Katanga
« No rest for the children of southern DRC »
MSF161584
1. In the Tanganyika Province, diseases seem to give children no respite. Those who survived measles
now face malnutrition and malaria.
MSF161583
2. A particularly deadly measles epidemic destabilized an already fragile nutritional situation, with
specific local dynamics.
MSF161594
3. "My little son first got infected by measles, but then he continued to lose weight. He had diarrhea
and refused to eat ... I am a farmer, but it doesn’t allow me to provide for the needs of my twelve
children. "
MSF161612
4. On market stalls vegetables, beans, peanuts and dried fish are for sale. But who can really afford
these products today? "This year nobody buys. I have only sold a kilo of beans this morning. How will
I feed my family with so little money?, "says a merchant lady, concerned.
MSF161599
5. Hers customers - mostly minors from the surroundings of Manono city - have seen their incomes
divided by two when the price of ore has dropped in summer 2015.
MSF161596
6. In the pond of Luba, they wash cassiterite, one of the main ore of tin, which is used for electronic
connections.
MSF161601
7. Children under five are the first affected by malnutrition. After vaccinating more than a million
children and cared for 30,000 patients of measles, MSF has renewed its support to the area to treat
severe acute malnutrition, which frequently follows measles.
MSF161605
8. Analysis of the children’s nutritional status is performed, among other criteria, by measuring the
circumference of the upper arm and the detection of nutritional edema.
MSF161600
9. 2345 children are now enrolled in the outpatient program. Every week, the mothers come to their
appointment to receive "plumpy nut" doses -ready to use therapeutic food that contains all the
nutrients needed to refeed their child.
MSF161602
10. The weekly follow up also allows to monitors weight gain and treat other related diseases. In the
rainy season, more than half of children treated in the program are also infected with malaria.
MSF161575
11. In these remote villages –which are very difficult to access-, a free and functional reference
system can save many children's lives, which otherwise would not reach the hospital in time. This is
the case of Nini, who suffers from severe anemia and is in shock.
MSF161576
12. On his arrival at the hospital, he is immediately taken into intensive care. He is given ventilatory
support to help the transport of oxygen, but his hemoglobin level is also very low. He needs an
emergency transfusion.
MSF161578
13. Thanks to the blood bank of the laboratory, Nini can immediately receive a compatible blood bag.
"My child was saved by the blood donation of another family. It's my turn now to help a child in
need, "says his dad.
MSF161577
14. The next day, Nini’s life is not in danger anymore. "We were both very worried about him. Now,
we are relieved. He still has a little fever, but he is much better already. "
MSF161572
15. In the pediatric emergency department of Manono hospital, eight in ten children suffer from
malaria. MSF has set up six tents to reinforce intensive care and management of severe acute
malnutrition with complications.