Thousands of Congolese children are dying from measles

Measles killed the lives of 1,145 children in the Democratic Republic of Congo since January this year, the UN Humanitarian Mission in the capital, Kinshara, said yesterday.

The UN Humanitarian Cooperation Office (OCHA) announced the epidemic had infected 115,600 children and killed 1,145 children in January-June. They added that the vaccination campaign is being promoted for 3.1 million children across the five provinces.

One child is receiving measles vaccine in Kasapa, Lumbumbashi, southeastern Congo. Photo: Gwenn Dubourthoumieu.

According to AFP, the campaign has been active since early May, after the non-governmental charity non-border doctor (MSF) criticized organizations like the World Health (WHO) lack of response. with the condition they call 'uncontrollable epidemic'. Since March, they have also called on the international community to help Congo further in dealing with this serious epidemic.

In 2010, in Congo, 5,407 cases were reported to be measles, with 82 deaths, a sharp increase compared to 899 cases and 26 deaths in 2009.

Now the Democratic Republic of Congo is also facing widespread cholera and polio - 250 people have been infected since March. The country is also the country with the highest child mortality rate in the world today, 148 children die out of 1,000 children born.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that can cause acute diarrhea, pneumonia and, if severe, permanent blindness and death. The disease primarily affects children under five years of age. Measles is currently one of the causes of death for children worldwide, although we have the vaccine.

Speaking out in response to criticism, WHO called for dialogue. ' Open a dialogue to see what is going on ,' said Ayigan regional director Kinshasa Kossi in the AFP.