COVID-19 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
COVID-19 has been present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for almost two months, the covid-19 pandemic is struggling to be brought under control, like almost everywhere in the world. The number of cases is now increasing at high speed and the State is putting great resources into the effective management of this epidemic. This exiles the visit of the President of the Republic, Félix Tshisekedi, this Thursday, May 7, 2020, in the hospitals of the city of Kinshasa where the patients suffering from coronavirus are interned. On the spot, the Head of State took the temperature regarding the development of the patients, but also the various concerns both on the side of the medical staff and the patients, themselves.
Concerned about the situation of his compatriots with Covid 19, Félix Tshisekedi, accompanied by his wife, Denise Nyakeru, began his visit to the Ngaliema Clinic, where he obtained further explanations on the care of the sick in this center from from Dr. Kongo, the Director Doctor.
In front of Pavilion 6 dedicated to Covid patients, the presidential couple attended the discharge of 16 patients cured of the coronavirus. They will join other patients who have recovered from this pandemic.
The Minister of Public Health, Dr Eteni Longondo, symbolically presented a certificate of healing to the father of a family of 9, among the 16 healed at this clinic.
The first hospital center to receive covid 19 patients, the Ngaliema Clinic treated 113 patients. The medical staff conveyed the gratitude to the Head of State for his personal involvement, the regular monitoring and the disbursement of funds for the efficient care of the sick.
The President of the Republic then went to the Kinshasa Medical Center (CMK), in the commune of Gombe. The presidential couple inaugurated a specialized pavilion for the treatment of patients with covid 19. With a capacity of 60 beds, this pavilion offers suitable conditions for efficient care.
At the Cinquantenaire Hospital, the third stage of the tour, the Head of State, Tshisekedi Tshilombo and the Distinguished First Lady visited the patients interned in this center. Several of them show encouraging signs but await confirmation of their serological status by the INRB before their release. Informed of this situation by the patients themselves, the President of the Republic promised to do everything possible so that the INRB increases its capacity for action.
A few days ago in this hospital, patients declaring themselves cured of covid-19 castigated them through videos that went around on the web, the poor care to which they are subjected. The presence of the Head of State today was, in fact, the occasion or never to submit their concerns. Again Felix Tshisekedi promised improvements.
It should be noted that a dozen patients recovered from covid-19 were released from this hospital training.
The Head of State spent nearly an hour at the National Biomedical Research Institute (INRB), the national public health laboratory in the DRC. Guided by Dr Jean-Jacques Muyembe, its director and coordinator of the technical secretariat for the response to covid 19, the presidential couple was informed of the operating mode of this laboratory and the challenges it faces. On the spot, the President said not to skimp on the means in order to allow the INRB to have sufficient means of functioning. The President of the Republic presented a batch of the Covid organics product, a gift from Madagascar to the DRC.
At the Sino-Congolese Friendship Hospital in N’djili, the President of the Republic was also informed by medical staff of the good progress of the patients interned there. Overall, we are on a good prospect.
Returning from this visit, in a light rain, the President of the Republic became aware of the progress of work on the grade separations at Debonhomme and at the Mandela roundabout where the site is almost completed. He spoke with officials from the Office of Highways and Drainage (OVD).
Despite the unpacking, on all sites, the work is proceeding to the great satisfaction of the population.
Note that the ministers of health and interior were present, but also the governor of the city of Kinshasa and the provincial commissioner of the national police / city of Kinshasa.
