Democratic Republic of the Congo

Fieldset

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the largest countries in Africa. This vast nation is rich in natural resources but has faced years of conflict.

A five-year conflict between government forces and rebels caused widespread civilian suffering. A peace deal was reached in 2003, but people in the east of the country continue to live in fear of violence from marauding militias and the army.

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) first worked in DRC in 1981. Our projects have responded to armed conflict, exclusion from healthcare, and both epidemic and endemic diseases, including Ebola.

Hannah Thompson

Midwife

A midwife in DRC: "Women deserve excellent care, the world over"

From morning clinics to late-night emergencies, UK midwife Hannah shares her experience working in a remote part of the Democratic Republic of Congo

07 May 2019 / 6 minute read

Alanah Jensen and the MSF team in Walikale, DRC

Alanah Jansen

Epidemiologist

How throwing a pen in the air helps us fight measles

Worldwide, tens of thousands of young children die from measles every year. After a recent outbreak in Walikale, DRC, MSF vaccinated 31,000 children against the disease, in a intensive, 15-day campaign. But will it be enough to stop the outbreak? Epidemiologist Alanah Jansen and her team are determined to find out...

03 May 2019 / 10 minute read

Charles Ssonko

Doctor

Innovation: A new approach to preventing HIV in Kimbi

In Kimbi, DRC, sex workers are keen to protect themselves from HIV. But having enough condoms, and persuading every client to wear one, can be a challenge. Dr Charles Ssonko describes an innovative project aiming to make a difference...

24 Apr 2019 / 5 minute read

Constance, Claire and Esperance celebrating international women's day

Claire Harper

Midwife

A joyful experience: Celebrating International Women's Day in DRC

Music, food and the opening of a life-saving new maternity building. US midwife Claire has a party to plan...

15 Apr 2019 / 8 minute read

Claire Harper

Midwife

A midwife in DRC: "The roads are like nothing I have ever seen"

US midwife Claire takes a bumpy ride to a remote healthcare centre in the Democratic Republic of Congo

14 Mar 2019 / 4 minute read

Claire Harper

Midwife

Welcome to Walikale: Settling into life as an MSF midwife

Two weeks into her first ever MSF assignment, US midwife Claire shares her early impressions from the Democratic Republic of Congo

06 Mar 2019 / 4 minute read

Reem Bouarrouj

Doctor

Last blog post from a Muzungu* in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Reem has been working for MSF / Doctors Without Borders for nine months, in a region of the Congo badly impacted by outbreaks of disease and violence. She writes about the experience of returning to a country that no longer feels quite like “home”.

30 Jan 2019 / 5 minute read

Saschveen Singh

Doctor

Ebola in DRC: “This has touched my heart forever”

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is fighting an Ebola epidemic – now the second-largest outbreak in history. At the end of her first week on the frontline, Australian doctor Saschveen shares this story of hope…

14 Jan 2019 / 2 minute read

Saschveen Singh

Doctor

Ebola in DRC: Staying safe in the red zone

Australian doctor Saschveen recently returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is fighting an Ebola epidemic – now the second-largest outbreak of the disease in history. In this blog, she explains how our teams avoid spreading the disease while caring for infected patients.

04 Jan 2019 / 3 minute read

Saschveen Singh

Doctor

Ebola in DRC: On my way

Australian doctor Saschveen recently returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is fighting an Ebola epidemic – now the second-largest outbreak of the disease in history. In this first blog, she shares her thoughts on the journey to the frontline.

17 Dec 2018 / 3 minute read

Alpha Diallo

WATSAN

Ebola: "I was terrified of my first time in the high-risk zone. Now I train others."

Three years after the end of the major Ebola epidemic in West Africa, an outbreak of the deadly disease was declared on 1 August 2018 in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In this new fight against Ebola, MSF relies on veteran staff to share their knowledge. One of them is Alpha Diallo, a water and sanitation expert from Guinea.

22 Nov 2018 / 4 minute read

Lanice Jones

Doctor

48 hours on the frontline of maternity care

At a maternity project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, it’s non-stop emergency medicine for Lanice, a Canadian doctor on her fourth assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF). She blogs about life, death and learning on the frontline of medical care.

24 Sep 2018 / 11 minute read