I Support Humanitarian Work
Update: central African Republic.(CAR)
It is raining season in the Central African Republic. and with the rains comes a peak in malaria cases. malaria is the number one killer of young children in the country which is experiencing a chronic health crisis aggravated by the recent conflict and violence.
Nine-year-old marine is lying on a plastic covered mattress. her eyes are half open,she is breathing rapidly and her mother has soaked her clothes in cool water to bring sown her temperature,which is close to 41 C.
Marine has been ill for a week now and all the signs of severe malaria are there. The Medecins Sans Frontieres staff checks marina's temperature every 30 minutes. Marine has been started on malaria treatment and has been given other medicines to reduce her fever.
On the bed with Marine is her little sister,Lucie who also has malaria,but whose temperature is not as high. Four other children are lying near by.
Malaria almost unavoidable.
This small room in Medecins Sans Frontieres'PK5 neighbourhood clinic is where children remain under observation. They are too weak to return home immediately after they have seen a Medecins Sans Frontiere nurse and received treatment.
"Even when the children sleep under a mosquito net it is not possible to avoid malaria" says Claire,Marine and Lucie's mother. "During these months,I almost always have one child who has malaria,and it is painful to se my children suffer like this."
It is Saturday morning and many other worried parents have brought their children to the clinic. They look silently as Medecin Sans Frontieres staff perform a quick blood test on each child to determine if they do,indeed,have malaria.
Those children that test positive for malaria are then weighed to calculate the correct dose of medicine needed. A nurse also check for other illnesses such as respiratory infections,which are common in young children in CAR.
Free and accessible treatment.
"Normally,buying treatment for malaria for one of my children would cost me 5000 CFA (close to 8 euros). That is money I do not have,especially not when the children are sick over and over again. This is the fourth time I am here at the Medecins Sans Frontieres clinic" says Claire,who is also mother to three other children who have stayed at home this time.
Only last week,800 children were seen and treated at the clinic.
Outside Bangui medical care can be difficult to come by. Medecins Sans Frontieres staff in hospitals and clinics around the country are sometimes the only ones who can offer the quality healthcare that is free of charge. Medecins Sans Frontieres is currently treating thousands of children each month,many of whom would otherwise be at risk of death.
Challenge to recovery.
"For children under five,receiving treatment in time is especially important as they have not developed any antibodies." Explains Dr Papy Nimbata, a doctor working in Medecins Snas frontiers 'clinic in the PK5 neighbourhood.
When we meet him,he is examining an 11 year-old-boy called Julien who has a temperature of 40.8 C. Julien is not only suffering from severe malaria,but also has pneumonia and anaemia. he is extremely thin and underweight. His mother explain that the family has little money and there are six children to feed. More often than not,they will only eat once a day.
Julien,Marine and Lucie are all discharged once their temperatures have dropped and are sent home with the medication they need.
These children and their parents are the lucky one.
MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES'UPDATE.
It is raining season in the Central African Republic. and with the rains comes a peak in malaria cases. malaria is the number one killer of young children in the country which is experiencing a chronic health crisis aggravated by the recent conflict and violence.
Nine-year-old marine is lying on a plastic covered mattress. her eyes are half open,she is breathing rapidly and her mother has soaked her clothes in cool water to bring sown her temperature,which is close to 41 C.
Marine has been ill for a week now and all the signs of severe malaria are there. The Medecins Sans Frontieres staff checks marina's temperature every 30 minutes. Marine has been started on malaria treatment and has been given other medicines to reduce her fever.
On the bed with Marine is her little sister,Lucie who also has malaria,but whose temperature is not as high. Four other children are lying near by.
Malaria almost unavoidable.
This small room in Medecins Sans Frontieres'PK5 neighbourhood clinic is where children remain under observation. They are too weak to return home immediately after they have seen a Medecins Sans Frontiere nurse and received treatment.
"Even when the children sleep under a mosquito net it is not possible to avoid malaria" says Claire,Marine and Lucie's mother. "During these months,I almost always have one child who has malaria,and it is painful to se my children suffer like this."
It is Saturday morning and many other worried parents have brought their children to the clinic. They look silently as Medecin Sans Frontieres staff perform a quick blood test on each child to determine if they do,indeed,have malaria.
Those children that test positive for malaria are then weighed to calculate the correct dose of medicine needed. A nurse also check for other illnesses such as respiratory infections,which are common in young children in CAR.
Free and accessible treatment.
"Normally,buying treatment for malaria for one of my children would cost me 5000 CFA (close to 8 euros). That is money I do not have,especially not when the children are sick over and over again. This is the fourth time I am here at the Medecins Sans Frontieres clinic" says Claire,who is also mother to three other children who have stayed at home this time.
Only last week,800 children were seen and treated at the clinic.
Outside Bangui medical care can be difficult to come by. Medecins Sans Frontieres staff in hospitals and clinics around the country are sometimes the only ones who can offer the quality healthcare that is free of charge. Medecins Sans Frontieres is currently treating thousands of children each month,many of whom would otherwise be at risk of death.
Challenge to recovery.
"For children under five,receiving treatment in time is especially important as they have not developed any antibodies." Explains Dr Papy Nimbata, a doctor working in Medecins Snas frontiers 'clinic in the PK5 neighbourhood.
When we meet him,he is examining an 11 year-old-boy called Julien who has a temperature of 40.8 C. Julien is not only suffering from severe malaria,but also has pneumonia and anaemia. he is extremely thin and underweight. His mother explain that the family has little money and there are six children to feed. More often than not,they will only eat once a day.
Julien,Marine and Lucie are all discharged once their temperatures have dropped and are sent home with the medication they need.
These children and their parents are the lucky one.
MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES'UPDATE.
80-89, F
