As of today (April 20), the Congo (DRC) has 327 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 25 deaths. The death rate is very high due to lack of well-equipped hospitals (there are only 5 ventilators in the entire country!), lack of knowledge among those living in remote areas and lack of sanitation. While Moma itself has no confirmed cases, the hospital remains vigilant. With the help of Friends of Moma Hospital and Mission: Hope, Dr. Christoph Bakamubia and his staff are focused on prevention—wearing, making hand-washing stations available, hygiene education, and modeling best practices.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funding has been provided for masks (sewn by Congolese women), hand sanitizer, and hand-washing stations. Because few–if any– houses at Moma have running water, portable hand washing stations are used. Hand washing with soap is one of the most effective and cost-effective means of preventing the spread of the virus as well as many other diseases that kill millions in Africa each year.