ReliefWeb

Summary: CHF 292,511 has been allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Congolese Red Cross National Society in delivering immediate assistance to some 1,500,000 beneficiaries, comprising 700,000 beneficiaries in Brazzaville, 500,000 in Pointe Noire and 300,000 in Pool. Un-earmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.

A chikungunya outbreak has affected the capital city of Brazzaville, as well as Pointe Noire and Pool divisions since the end of May 2011. By 12 June 2011, about 900 cases were already declared in Brazzaville by the government-led technical committee for the management of epidemics. Out of the 48 samples that were sent to the sub regional reference laboratory in Franceville, Gabon, more than 58% were tested positive with the chikungunya virus. It is the first time that the Republic of Congo has been affected by chikungunya, a disease transmitted by mosquitoes that causes fever, headache, fatigue and muscular and joint pains.

The most affected neighbourhoods are found in the southern and eastern parts of Brazzaville, namely Makelekele, Nganga, Lingolo, Loua, Madibou, Massissia and Mafouta neighbourhoods. About 150 cases have been registered in the 7th subdivision of Brazzaville, notably in Mfilou and Moungali (Moukondo) that together account for three quarters of the total population of Brazzaville. Government has set up a chikungunya management committee, and patients are followed up at the Makelekele base hospital and in other integrated health centres in the southern and western parts of Brazzaville.

Considering that the Republic of Congo is presently in the dry season, there are fears that unless immediate action is taken, the epidemic will spread rapidly throughout the country. Added disease morbidity will have a very negative effect on the already difficult living conditions of the populations.

With this DREF allocation, the Congolese Red Cross society intends to mobilise 300 skilled volunteers in the targeted neighbourhoods of Brazzaville, train them and involve them in social mobilisation, hygiene and sanitation, and support to health centres. The volunteers will support their communities in the organization of clean-up campaigns to eliminate mosquito breeding sites. The volunteers will complement a general bed net distribution planned for late July, supporting distribution of 15,000 nets to people with special needs. Volunteers will check that the received mosquito nets are properly installed and that the targeted chikungunya-affected populations have actually received mosquito nets.

The DREF will also enable the National Society to conduct advocacy aimed at stopping the spread of the disease.

This operation is expected to be implemented over 3 months, and will therefore be completed by 30 September, 2011; a Final Report will be made available three months after the end of the operation (by 31 December, 2011).