Search
  1. Home
  2. Africa
  3. DRC

Cholera, measles kill 21 in Goma

Country Map - DRC (Goma) IRIN
Tens of thousands flee Goma, DRC
    GOMA
    Health officials say that outbreaks of cholera and measles in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) town of Goma have caused the death of at least five adults and 16 children in the last four weeks. "We have registered about 200 cases of cholera and 270 cases of measles since July," Dr Alain Kiputsuthe, the chief medical officer for Goma, capital of North Kivu Province, said on Monday. One of the causes of the cholera outbreak is a shortage of drinking water in Goma over the last month. "Even the health centres receiving cholera patients do not have enough potable water," he said. The measles outbreak is occurring because few mothers are vaccinating their child against the disease, he added. Two free measles treatment centres have been set up in Goma and three centres to treat cholera patients.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

    Share this article

    Our ability to deliver compelling, field-based reporting on humanitarian crises rests on a few key principles: deep expertise, an unwavering commitment to amplifying affected voices, and a belief in the power of independent journalism to drive real change.

    We need your help to sustain and expand our work. Your donation will support our unique approach to journalism, helping fund everything from field-based investigations to the innovative storytelling that ensures marginalised voices are heard.

    Please consider joining our membership programme. Together, we can continue to make a meaningful impact on how the world responds to crises.

    Become a member of The New Humanitarian

    Support our journalism and become more involved in our community. Help us deliver informative, accessible, independent journalism that you can trust and provides accountability to the millions of people affected by crises worldwide.

    Join