Eleanor Antoine

On February 23, 2019, after nearly nine hours of flying and four hours of driving through Rwanda’s stunning landscapes, I finally arrived in Goma! Well, almost… I still had to cross the Rwanda-Congo border, which I did with some trepidation. Finally, after a few questions and document checks, my adventure began!

The smell of wood fires, motorcycle taxis, smiles, and honking horns immediately put me in the Congolese mood. And strangely enough, even though this is my first time in sub-Saharan Africa, I feel so at home. I have to say that I have been dreaming about this internship for a very long time. Pascal, who was waiting for me in the ULB-Coopération 4×4, drops me off at Agnès’s house, where I will be staying, and she welcomes me with a big smile: “Jambo!” The next day, I take a short tour of the city. My first encounter with Lake Kivu: I can’t wipe the smile off my face. The day flies by, which is just as well, as I can’t wait to start my internship!

On Monday morning, things get serious. I quickly get into the swing of things. First weekly meeting where I meet the team. Everyone makes me feel comfortable and welcomes me with a smile. Then, my internship supervisor, Hélène, explains to me in broad terms the approach we will take together, focusing on discrimination and inequalities in access to healthcare. She discusses with me the specific context in which patients live in the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly at the North Kivu Provincial Hospital (HPNK). The first shock: here, patients who cannot pay their hospital bills, the “indigent” as they are called, remain locked up within the hospital grounds. They are therefore very often forced to beg in order to survive. As a result, many leave behind children who are left to fend for themselves. The contrast with our country strikes me with full force. In an attempt to break this vicious circle, Hélène has established criteria for poverty that work on a “score” basis. Based on various questions, the score identifies people considered to be in a situation of extreme poverty. This early identification would make it possible to consider a debt relief system. Later in the week, we learn that three people have been “freed” thanks to these proposals.

Then I discovered another aspect of this project, concerning diabetes. Diabetes? Yes, diabetes! Unexpectedly, this is an issue that receives little media coverage in Europe, but in Africa, this chronic disease, like cardiovascular disease, is actually more deadly than HIV/AIDS. It can lead to blindness, foot damage that can result in amputations, heart attacks and strokes, and even kidney failure. Having diabetes can therefore have very serious consequences. A major difficulty is that its treatment requires active self-management on the part of the patient: they are responsible for taking their medication regularly and adopting a healthy lifestyle with an appropriate diet and regular physical activity. This is not always easy to do, especially when you don’t have the necessary information. As a result, the HPNK discrimination commission has decided to undertake several actions, including a discussion forum that I am co-organizing with Hélène, aimed at diabetic patients and healthcare providers in order to facilitate dialogue and promote active listening to the difficulties encountered by each individual.

After just a few days of my internship, I realize that there is a lot of work to be done and many challenges to overcome. I am surrounded by a supportive and motivated team, which gives me a lot of hope for the future!