Democratic Republic of the Congo
WHO and partners work to improve health situation
Photos 1-6
2 December 2008 -- Massive displacement of population, weak health services and a lack of safe water and proper sanitation facilities have put the health of hundreds of thousands of people at risk in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
WHO is leading the coordinated health response to the emergency. With its partners, WHO has launched an intense operation in Kibati and other camps located around Goma, the capital of the North Kivu province. The aim is to prevent and control potentially life-threatening diseases and to ensure safe water supply and proper sanitation in temporary camps where thousands of displaced people are now living.
These photos provide a snapshot of the work of WHO and its partners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
PHOTO 1
The Kibati I camp is home to about 18 000 people displaced by the fighting in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The camp is located 10 kilometres from Goma, the capital of the North Kivu province.
PHOTO 2
An assessment team from WHO talks to Masika Kabaguhera (centre), who is responsible for cleaning latrines in one part of the Kibati II camp. She informs the team that she cleans the latrines three times a day.
PHOTO 3
A nutritionist from the International Medical Corps weighs a three-month-old baby from one of the camps to check for malnutrition.
PHOTO 4
A child receives vitamin A supplement during a measles vaccination campaign at Kibati II camp.
PHOTO 5
Two health workers give a child polio vaccine during a vaccination campaign at Kibati II camp.
PHOTO 6
Yves Chartier, water and sanitation engineer from WHO, checks taps at a water distribution point in the Kibati I camp. Regular checks ensure that sufficient number of taps are functional for use by people living in the camps.