Why?
This project contains support to the DREF appeal from the IFRC in DRC. In January 2016, a yellow fever outbreak was detected and confirmed in Angola, Southern Africa. Yellow fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. There are an estimated 130,000 cases of yellow fever reported yearly, causing 44,000 deaths worldwide each year, with 90 percent occurring in Africa. Following cross-border population movement from Angola into neighbouring countries, exported cases were reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). On 23 March 2016, the DRC Ministry of Health (MoH) declared an official yellow fever outbreak, with a total of 39 imported cases from Angola reported in Kongo Central and Kinshasa provinces. Activities within the project takes place in Boma, Boma Bungu, Kitona, Muanda, Matadi, Nsona MPangu, Nzanza, Kimpangu, Kimpese, Massina 2 and N’djili.
What?
Activities of this DREF included community surveillance and vector control through hygiene and sanitation. As such, some 550 volunteers, 55 supervisors, 11 heads of health zones were deployed in the field with the necessary equipment. This team was supported by the National Society through its Director of Health, Finance and Communication officers, as well as the IFRC’s Yaoundé CCST Health Coordinator and Finance team. The vaccination campaign was carried out successfully with a vaccination coverage of 107 per cent, compared to a target of 95 percent.
Who?
Red Cross volunteers visited 1,010,430 households in which 1,325,595 people, including 379,498 men and 344,068 women, were reached with messages on yellow fever. In total, 602,029 children from 9 months to 14 years were also reached. In addition, 1,455 cases of referrals were recorded, amongst whom 1,379 were managed while 684 cases of AEFI were identified and taken in charge by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Some 59 cases of vaccine preventable diseases were also identified and referred to nearest health centre. DRC Red Cross volunteers participated in 97 coordination meetings and conducted 94 evaluation missions with other actors.