DRC: Combatting measles with mass vaccination
Following a measles outbreak, MSF vaccinates 70,000 children against the disease in one of the most neglected provinces of Democratic Republic of Congo.
Between May and July 2024, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams vaccinated nearly 70,000 children against measles across Maniema province in response to outbreaks of the disease. This remote province, in the east of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is one of the most neglected in terms of humanitarian assistance in the country.
Nearly 60,000 children aged between six months and nine years were vaccinated during a 37-day campaign in Kampene health zone. MSF teams also supported the Ministry of Health in treating 2,168 patients for measles at Kampene general referral hospital, including 684 severe cases, of whom 40 did not survive. In the first half of 2024, Maniema province recorded more than 10,000 cases of measles and 500 measles-related deaths across its 18 health zones, according to provincial health authorities.
MSF teams also vaccinated 12,850 children under two in Kampene health zone against pneumonia, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and hepatitis. The vaccination campaign involved a major logistics plan, including the use of planes and around 60 motorbikes.
Over one week in May 2024, MSF teams also vaccinated more than 10,000 children against measles in Salamabila health zone, Maniema province. MSF’s emergency team is planning further vaccination activities in Maniema province, while staff continue to treat measles patients in various areas.
Carried by his mother Tcheussi, 18-month-old Kangakolo leaves Kampene general referral hospital, in eastern DRC, after recovering from measles. Tcheussi says that in their village, located 18 km from the hospital, many children lost their lives during this epidemic, including five from her own extended family.
Supplies for MSF’s vaccination campaign are unloaded from boxes in the central office of Kampene health zone, in eastern DRC. Located about 150 km from Kindu, the provincial capital of Maniema, transporting medical supplies to Kampene is prohibitively expensive for many health facilities, leaving them unable to respond if measles breaks out.
A child is vaccinated in Kampene, Maniema province, DRC. To ensure wide coverage, MSF teams worked in six fixed sites and two mobile sites and actively searched for children to be vaccinated.
Carrying out routine vaccinations in this area of DRC is a challenge. Without a functioning cold chain or vaccine carrier, it is difficult to maintain the temperature of 2 to 8 degrees necessary for a vaccine to remain effective. Without routine vaccinations, it is impossible to reach herd immunity.
Under a blazing sun, megaphone in hand, MSF health promoters in Kampene, eastern DRC, raise awareness among parents about the importance and benefits of getting their children vaccinated. They also go from house to house and take the time to answer parents’ questions and dispel any doubts they may have.
Boxes of vaccines and supplies are unloaded from a plane in Kama, in eastern DRC, before being transported by motorbike to Kampene, 65 km from the airfield. To carry out a mass vaccination campaign, MSF relies on the expertise of a multidisciplinary team, including medical staff, health promoters, logisticians and motorbike drivers.
Vaccines, medicines and blood bags are stored in the refrigerator in Kampene general referral hospital, eastern DRC. Kampene health zone does not have a cold chain or a functioning blood bank, so the central zone office uses the only refrigerator in the hospital to store essential medical supplies.
Thérèse Selemani brings her two-year-old daughter to be vaccinated against measles. The child almost died during a previous outbreak of the disease in this remote area of Maniema province, eastern DRC, where the nearest health centre is 25 km away. “I almost lost her when she was sick. We walked 25 km so she could receive treatment. Unfortunately, the health centre was overwhelmed and we could not be admitted. When they explained to me the importance of this vaccination and the diseases it helps prevent, I understood right away. If this vaccine can help us never again experience the situation when she was sick, I am happy to have her vaccinated.”
Bahati, an MSF mechanic, is in charge of maintaining all the equipment used by the MSF teams for the vaccination campaign, including generators, solar energy devices and motorbikes.
The electricity network is almost non-existent in Kampene health zone, eastern DRC. Generators and solar energy devices are vital for powering the cold chain that keeps the active ingredients of vaccines at the right temperature.
Veronica brings her three children to be vaccinated against measles in Kampene, eastern DRC. Despite a mass measles vaccination campaign conducted in September 2023 by the national expanded program on immunization, a recent outbreak has affected children across Kampene health zone.
Veronica: “I have always had my children vaccinated but I am surprised to see that, each time [there is an outbreak], one of them suffers from measles. Recently it was Alowa, the youngest, who fell ill and it cost us a lot of money to get her treated.”
An MSF health worker measures a child’s mid upper arm to see if she is malnourished. MSF carried out a systematic malnutrition screening during its vaccination campaign in Kampene, eastern DRC.
An MSF psychologist provides a psychoeducation session during the vaccination campaign carried out in Campine health zone, eastern DRC.
The cost of medical care can be high, which deters many people from visiting local health facilities in Kampene health zone, eastern DRC. Most local health facilities receive very little external support.
