title: Mortality, violence and lack of access to healthcare in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
abstract: The people of the Democratic Republic of Congo for decades have been living in a situation of chronic crisis. Violence, population displacement and the destruction of infrastructure and health services have devastated the health of the population. In 2001, Médicins Sans Frontières conducted a survey in five areas of western and central DRC to assess mortality, access to health-care, vaccination coverage and exposure to violence. High mortality rates were found in front-line zones, mainly due to malnutrition and infectious diseases. In Basankusu approximately 10 per cent of the total population and 25 per cent of the under-five population had perished in the year before the survey. Humanitarian needs remain acute across the country, particularly near the front line. Infectious-disease control and treatment are a priority, as is increasing access to health-care. Humanitarian assistance must be increased considerably, especially in rural areas and zones that have been affected directly by conflict.
authors.affiliation: Nathan.FORD@london.msf.org
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Herp
authors.forename: Veronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Parqué
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rackley
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ford
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000533:Altruism; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006292:Health Priorities; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards*; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012036:Refugees; D012066:Relief Work; D012423:Rural Health; D014611:Vaccination / Q000592:standards; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014857:Warfare