Congo Kinshasa : Helping amid tribal conflict

Joseph is 21. The total breakdown of medical services in his village left him in a dire position. The doctors and nurses had been forced to flee, and Joseph’s pain became worse. Eventually his family got him onto a boat that would call in at Basankusu, 60 miles downriver. When he arrived, his appendix had already burst; he had an intestinal occlusion (we think from being beaten) – which means that nothing could get through.

 

Joseph receiving medication
the evening he arrived 

It was already late afternoon when he arrived. Dr Eric called Judith to the hospital. “I know you normally help malnourished children,” he said, “but this young man has fled, in fear of his life, and has no-one else to help him. Without an operation he will die.” Judith told him we’d been stung before – he might die anyway and then the family will ask for money for his funeral, including food for the family and his journey home. We can’t risk such expense! Dr. Eric suggested that the family sign a disclaimer letter. They would welcome any help we could offer, and put in writing a statement that they wouldn’t pursue the matter further. After they, and a witness, had signed the letter, the doctor gave some antibiotics and other drugs to calm his system. We paid for his first medicines. Joseph had escaped from the village of Djombo. Djombo is often beset with ethnic conflict. This time it had got out of hand. The Gombe tribe is the majority. The Provincial MPs had appointed traditional chiefs only from the minority Mongo tribe. Regionally, Mongo are the majority, but not in Djombo. The MPs had gone as far as providing automatic weapons to the Mongo groups. The result is carnage, with bodies strewn all over the place, and 347 houses burnt to the ground. Doctors, nurses, teachers and so on, as well as a lot of the population have been forced to flee. Police from the city of Mbandaka, have been deployed. The operation took place the next morning. Dr Eric called me to buy the compresses, gloves, syringes, anaesthetics and so on, necessary for the operation. I whizzed off into town to collect the money at Hung’s shop, dropping off Judith at Basankusu Cathedral for Christmas Day Mass. I left Dr. Eric to his work, and joined Judith at Mass. 

Joseph a few days after his operation

I’m pleased to say that the operation was a success. Joseph will spend at least 2 weeks in hospital. 

So our costs will begin like this: 

• 15 days in hospital x £8 = £120 
• Operation = £97 
• Medicines and dressings = £80 
• Food 15 days x £5 (including his 2 minders) = £75 

Total for the beginning: £372

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