In MSF supported structures in the Democratic Republic of Congo, malaria is the first cause for medical consultations Those most vulnerable to malaria are children less than five years old.
Preventing and treating malaria is simple, yet many obstacles make access to malaria treatments difficult in DRC: unavailability of the treatment, its high cost, or the remoteness of health centers.
In Gety, in the North East of DRC, MSF supports the general hospital as well as 3 health centers for treating the diseases affecting the children under five years, including malaria, with the support of another NGO, CARITAS for supplying antimalarial treatment.
In addition to that, MSF started to support 10 community health sites in 2017. In fact, insecurity and lack of transportation in the region makes the access to the closest health centers difficult for some communities who live in remote villages. During 2016, the Congolese Ministry of Health, along with the Director of Gety health area and the community representatives, identified 10 community health sites in Gety area. These sites regroup populations with difficult access to healthcare.
MSF supports the communities in those health-sites by ensuring that there is a place where treatment for malaria and diarrhea are available for free for the children less than five years. Medicines for malaria are most often stocked in the house of one community member, which has been transformed into a community-care center. Two community health workers, identified by the community, are trained to evaluate the cases and treat the children diagnosed for malaria.