The state of emergency care in Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the second largest country on the African continent with a population of over 70 million. It is also a major crossroad through Africa as it borders nine countries. Unfortunately, the DRC has experienced recurrent political and social instability throughout i...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2015-12-01
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| Series: | African Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211419X15001032 |
| _version_ | 1818343084100943872 |
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| author | Luc Malemo Kalisya Margaret Salmon Kitoga Manwa Mundenga Mutendi Muller Ken Diango Rene Zaidi Sarah K. Wendel Teri Ann Reynolds |
| author_facet | Luc Malemo Kalisya Margaret Salmon Kitoga Manwa Mundenga Mutendi Muller Ken Diango Rene Zaidi Sarah K. Wendel Teri Ann Reynolds |
| author_sort | Luc Malemo Kalisya |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the second largest country on the African continent with a population of over 70 million. It is also a major crossroad through Africa as it borders nine countries. Unfortunately, the DRC has experienced recurrent political and social instability throughout its history and active fighting is still prevalent today. At least two decades of conflict have devastated the civilian population and collapsed healthcare infrastructure. Life expectancy is low and government expenditure on health per capita remains one of the lowest in the world. Emergency Medicine has not been established as a specialty in the DRC. While the vast majority of hospitals have emergency rooms or salle des urgences, this designation has no agreed upon format and is rarely staffed by doctors or nurses trained in emergency care. Presenting complaints include general and obstetric surgical emergencies as well as respiratory and diarrhoeal illnesses. Most patients present late, in advanced stages of disease or with extreme morbidity, so mortality is high. Epidemics include HIV, cholera, measles, meningitis and other diarrhoeal and respiratory illnesses. Lack of training, lack of equipment and fee-for-service are cited as barriers to care. Pre-hospital care is also not an established specialty. New initiatives to improve emergency care include training Congolese physicians in emergency medicine residencies and medic ranger training within national parks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T16:24:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8f35a4da9cce411a90096ab5483ab336 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2211-419X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T16:24:57Z |
| publishDate | 2015-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-8f35a4da9cce411a90096ab5483ab3362022-12-21T23:38:37ZengElsevierAfrican Journal of Emergency Medicine2211-419X2015-12-015415315810.1016/j.afjem.2015.08.001The state of emergency care in Democratic Republic of CongoLuc Malemo Kalisya0Margaret Salmon1Kitoga Manwa2Mundenga Mutendi Muller3Ken Diango4Rene Zaidi5Sarah K. Wendel6Teri Ann Reynolds7Department of Surgery HEAL Hospital, Goma CongoDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Global Health Emergency Medicine, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, CanadaDepartment of Internal Medicine, 8e CEPAC Kyeshero Hospital, Goma, CongoDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar Es Salaam, TanzaniaDepartment of Emergency Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South AfricaITTea Innovations and Technology Transfer for Enhanced Affordability, Goma, CongoGeorgetown University School of Medicine, Washington DC, USAEmergency Medicine and Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, USAThe Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the second largest country on the African continent with a population of over 70 million. It is also a major crossroad through Africa as it borders nine countries. Unfortunately, the DRC has experienced recurrent political and social instability throughout its history and active fighting is still prevalent today. At least two decades of conflict have devastated the civilian population and collapsed healthcare infrastructure. Life expectancy is low and government expenditure on health per capita remains one of the lowest in the world. Emergency Medicine has not been established as a specialty in the DRC. While the vast majority of hospitals have emergency rooms or salle des urgences, this designation has no agreed upon format and is rarely staffed by doctors or nurses trained in emergency care. Presenting complaints include general and obstetric surgical emergencies as well as respiratory and diarrhoeal illnesses. Most patients present late, in advanced stages of disease or with extreme morbidity, so mortality is high. Epidemics include HIV, cholera, measles, meningitis and other diarrhoeal and respiratory illnesses. Lack of training, lack of equipment and fee-for-service are cited as barriers to care. Pre-hospital care is also not an established specialty. New initiatives to improve emergency care include training Congolese physicians in emergency medicine residencies and medic ranger training within national parks.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211419X15001032Democratic Republic of CongoEmergency MedicineEmergency RoomsSalle des UrgencesHeath Care StructureMedical Education |
| spellingShingle | Luc Malemo Kalisya Margaret Salmon Kitoga Manwa Mundenga Mutendi Muller Ken Diango Rene Zaidi Sarah K. Wendel Teri Ann Reynolds The state of emergency care in Democratic Republic of Congo African Journal of Emergency Medicine Democratic Republic of Congo Emergency Medicine Emergency Rooms Salle des Urgences Heath Care Structure Medical Education |
| title | The state of emergency care in Democratic Republic of Congo |
| title_full | The state of emergency care in Democratic Republic of Congo |
| title_fullStr | The state of emergency care in Democratic Republic of Congo |
| title_full_unstemmed | The state of emergency care in Democratic Republic of Congo |
| title_short | The state of emergency care in Democratic Republic of Congo |
| title_sort | state of emergency care in democratic republic of congo |
| topic | Democratic Republic of Congo Emergency Medicine Emergency Rooms Salle des Urgences Heath Care Structure Medical Education |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211419X15001032 |
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