Flying to combat measles and cholera

25 October 2011

Our team has been working hard to provide desperately needed flight services to assist medical agencies in their efforts to combat cholera and measles in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

During a 4-week period in July and August, MAF pilots carried some 100 medical staff and over 6 tons of vaccines and medical supplies to support the 24 mobile clinics that MSF launched to fight measles. In one village, the residents wanted help so desperately that 300 people worked for 4 days to clear and reopen an overgrown airstrip so we could land with the medical team and supplies.

According to UN reports, as of beginning of October, there have been at least 6,910 cases and 384 deaths from cholera. The cholera outbreak was first reported in March in the north-eastern province of Orientale before spreading along the Congo River to the capital Kinshasa. At least 15,630 cases and 1,418 deaths from measles have so far been recorded. In addition, the DRC is now also facing outbreaks of polio.