Madingo-Kayes – Magloire, 45, a hunter from Kotinvindo in the far south of Congo, came close to death one morning in March 2024. While on his usual hunt, he encountered a herd of elephants, one of which attacked him. “When it happened, I was truly desperate; I was sure it was my last hour.”

Magloire survived thanks to the prompt arrival of an ambulance that treated him and evacuated him to Pointe-Noire, where he underwent surgery. The availability of this ambulance is part of an initiative to improve access to health care in remote areas, launched by health authorities with support from the World Health Organization (WHO).

WHO is supporting Congo in its project to revitalize health districts to improve population health across the country. Revitalization is one of the pillars of the operational strategy aimed specifically at improving the organization and functioning of health districts. “We are bringing care closer to the population, and special mention goes to the ambulance provided to Madingo-Kayes, which is saving lives,” explains Dr. Paule Chantal Portella, Kouilou Departmental Director of Health Care and Services.

The revitalization project, whose pilot phase began in 2019, covers 12 health districts, including Madingo-Kayes. Its referral hospital serves villages up to more than 245 km away, including Kotinvindo, the last village in the district.

The situation changed in August 2022 with the arrival of the ambulance. “Managing community emergencies at the hospital was difficult and complicated. Without a rescue vehicle, emergency interventions are ineffective. In the past, we had to negotiate with taxis to refer urgent cases requiring immediate care,” explains Dr. Charly Nianga, Head of Internal Medicine at Madingo-Kayes Referral Hospital.

Before the ambulance was put into service, only two community emergencies were properly managed in August 2022. By August 2024, that number had risen to 10.

“This ambulance has solved many problems and served many villages,” says Dr. Jean-Bruno Douiba, Director of Madingo-Kayes Hospital. “It was in the middle of the night that I was informed about Magloire, wounded after an elephant attack. I gathered a health assistant, the ambulance driver, and a nurse, and we went to handle the situation,” he recalls.

In addition to donating the ambulance, WHO also provided the hospital with laboratory equipment, 10 modern metal beds, and 10 medical mattresses. The Organization also supported capacity building for health personnel and donated medicines and medical-technical equipment.

“WHO supports the Government of the Republic of Congo in establishing a continuum of health care that integrates adequate referral systems for quality management of life-threatening emergencies,” said Dr. Vincent Dossou Sodjinou, Acting WHO Representative in Congo. “Thus, as part of integrating the Strengthening and Utilising Response Groups for Emergencies (SURGE) project and the operational strategy, we equipped the health district with a fully equipped ambulance to ensure patient referral and end preventable deaths. WHO is assured of the added value of this ambulance on the ground,” added Dr. Sodjinou.

After his painful ordeal, Magloire has returned to a normal life. “It was a relief to see my family come for me in the forest, and when I saw the ambulance, I knew I’m saved,” he confides. “If I’m still alive, it’s thanks to that ambulance.”