Introduction to Shamwana

Here's a little background info about my future project.

 

In 2005, there were still clashes between the Mai-Mai rebels and the military in Katanga.  The population of the Shamwana region was traumatized and an estimated 10-15 000 people became Internally Displaced Persons (IDP's) and moved to the Dubie region where MSF-Holland (MSFH) had a project. In May 2006, once the political situation stabilized, MSFH decided to open a health centre in Shamwana because of its remoteness.  It's about 300 km from Lubumbashi but because of the poor state of the roads, it's impossible to join up.  Since then, a small hospital has been built out of nothing, and most of the IDP's have come back.  There are huge mental health issues as one can imagine, but the outlook is positive - the school is back, the fields are being worked on, there are chicken if not goats.  The health centre, where the wards are currently tents, will be turned into a real hospital with an operating room and a functioning laboratory - that's what should happening while I work there. 

 

That's pretty much all I know.  This little movie, available on the MSF website (but very well hidden so I put it on my YouTube), was done in late 2006 and gives an idea of the place.  It's much better now, the link with Lubumbashi is much better and I think that we have electricity at least for emergency surgeries now.

About Shamwana