Central African Republic

Primary Healthcare

Due to ongoing conflict within CAR, International Medical Corps staff members often operate under intense pressure, as teams deliver emergency medical care and conduct surgeries for victims of conflict. Many people have fled their homes and reside in makeshift settlements throughout the country. IDPs, refugees and host populations are extremely vulnerable to malnutrition and disease, with water, sanitation, food and healthcare limited, if available at all. International Medical Corps provides health consultations through its supported health centers, hospitals and mobile clinics, and conducts immunization campaigns in remote villages. To address the severe shortage of maternal and newborn health services, International Medical Corps provides prenatal and postnatal care, and emergency obstetric and neonatal care.

Nutrition

Roughly 1.1 million people in CAR require food assistance. The conflict has greatly affected people’s ability to move freely, which diminishes their ability to grow crops, buy food and access healthcare. In these types of complex conflict situations, vulnerable populations—such as pregnant women and children under 5 years old—often are at an increased risk of acute malnutrition.

International Medical Corps’ nutrition program includes:

• community mobilization to increase the understanding, engagement and participation of families and caretakers;
• supplementary feeding programs;
• an outpatient therapeutic program for those with severe acute malnutrition; and
• a stabilization center for those with severe acute malnutrition with medical complications.

In addition, International Medical Corps conducts surveillance of malnutrition within the most affected communities, to ensure that people receive appropriate and timely treatment.

Protection

Often used as a weapon in the conflict in CAR, violence against women and girls (VAWG) affects their physical, psychological and social health, as well as their families and communities. International Medical Corps conducts training in remote areas, such as the Vakaga and Ouham regions, to raise awareness among community members about such violence, and to advocate for the safety and protection of children and youth. Community leaders, local authorities, healthcare providers and representatives from local women’s associations participate in training programs on violence and children’s rights. International Medical Corps collaborates with the training participants through the local women’s association to reinforce their capacity and provide refresher training. In addition, the team provides on-site training and supervision to healthcare providers that work directly with survivors of violence. Our teams work to strengthen community awareness of protection concerns while ensuring that survivors have access to necessary resources.