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Health: Republic of Guinea fights against large measles epidemic (MSF)
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Conakry, 12 Apr (AGP) - The Republic of Guinea in West Africa has been facing a major measles epidemic since the beginning of 2017, according to a press release from the international humanitarian organization , Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), on 12 April.


"Since the beginning of this year, 3,468 cases have been confirmed and 14 deaths have been reported as a result of measles throughout the country. Conakry and N'zérékoré are the prefectures most affected, "it was said.


It is within this framework that MSF, in collaboration with the Guinean Ministry of Health, launched a large campaign of vaccination against this epidemic in Conakry.


MSF states the causes: "Routine vaccination in Guinea was drastically reduced during the Ebola epidemic in 2014-2015, Following the allocation of resources and attention to the management of the Ebola epidemic, but also because of fear: people were left out of the health centers, vaccination activities were suspended Leading to high risk of infection, leaving thousands of young children vulnerable and unprotected against easily preventable diseases through vaccination.


A national campaign was organized by the authorities last year (MSF did not take part) to vaccinate children who had not received their injection. Despite this catching-up effort, a measles epidemic was declared on February 8, "it was explained.


The head of mission MSF in Guinea, Ibrahim Diallo deplored: "The fact that a new epidemic is occurring, Just one year after a major vaccination campaign, is a worrying sign of poor health care in Guinea. " According to him, "major problems remain in the health system, which undermine its ability to anticipate and respond to epidemics in a timely and effective manner".


After the devastating Ebola epidemic, which killed about 11,000 people and severely damaged the health care systems of the three most affected countries (Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia), WHO and the leading public health experts had insisted on The importance of rebuilding reactive health systems in the three countries, equipping them to better manage new health crises similar to Ebola, it was recalled.


According to the UN agency responsible for the Ebola response, "Only 18% of the funds disbursed during the Ebola epidemic have been allocated to the convalescence of these countries. The commitment of international donors to strengthen health systems has focused on improving surveillance of the disease to ensure detection and rapid response to an epidemic such as Ebola.


However, today, in the face of a large measles epidemic, MSF (in Conakry) and Alima (N'zérékoré prefecture) are the only NGOs so far providing support to the Ministry of Health in The districts most affected.


WHO and UNICEF have promised to support other prefectures affected by the epidemic, discussions are still ongoing, "it was stressed.


"If Ebola was a wake-up call, The world seems to have fallen asleep again since then. As demonstrated by this measles epidemic, the concrete impact of the pledges of funding, support and training made during and after the Ebola crisis must still be felt by the Guinean population, "said Dr Mit Philips, MSF Policy Analyst health.


"Access to quality health care was clearly lacking before the arrival of Ebola and the country is still facing the same problems it faced at that time, largely on its own, despite the commitment Public health system for the reconstruction of better and more reactive health systems, "he added.


To control the epidemic, MSF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health in Conakry, Mobilizes 126 teams of 13 people spread across 164 sites of vaccination in the city of more than 3 million inhabitants. All children from 06 months to 10 years of age will be vaccinated. MSF is also supporting 30 health centers in Conakry to care for children with moderate measles, as well as the reference site where severe cases are hospitalized, reassured.


AGP / 12/04/017 MSF / AGP