North Kivu: more than 100 new cases of HIV/AIDS identified among displaced people around Goma

At the beginning of this year, an investigation carried out by the National Multisectoral Program to Combat HIV/AIDS (PNMLS) revealed an alarming situation in displaced sites around Goma, North Kivu. More than 100 new cases of people living with HIV/AIDS have been identified.

Aubin Mongili, coordinator of the PNMLS in North Kivu, expressed serious concerns about the spread of this disease.

“We had 113 positive cases of HIV in the different sites combined. That troubled us. Here, these are new cases. And we also had 480 old cases. And what hurts us more, these people do not have access to antiretrovirals (ARVs) Having the high rate of people living with HIV in the sites makes the sites even more vulnerable If the issue of HIV is not quickly integrated into the package. humanitarian care for displaced, their camps risk becoming hotbeds for the spread of this disease,” Aubin Mongili told the press.

He calls on humanitarian organizations to integrate the HIV/AIDS fund into the assistance package intended for displaced people. According to him, if this crucial issue is not quickly addressed, IDP camps could become real hotbeds for the spread of HIV/AIDS.

“Let the partners come to our aid. We want all the mobile clinics that exist in the sites to be able to capacity the staff who are there so that when a sick person comes, they can find the medicines on site” , he added.

Voluntary screening carried out in ten displaced persons sites revealed worrying figures, highlighting the vulnerability of this population already experiencing precarious living conditions. Mass displacement due to armed conflicts in the region is exacerbating health risks, and human rights organizations are warning of the dangers linked to crowding, insufficient nutrition and other environmental factors.

Faced with this critical situation, the executive secretary of the PNMLS calls for increased mobilization of humanitarian resources in favor of those displaced by war in eastern DRC, in order to guarantee adequate and integrated management of issues linked to HIV/AIDS .

The integration of this issue into humanitarian assistance has become an essential priority to prevent a major health crisis.

Joshua Mutanava, in Goma