North Kivu health professionals unite to improve war victim care

Healthcare professionals in North Kivu, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, are uniting their efforts to enhance the quality of care for victims of armed conflict. Faced with a continuous influx of war-wounded patients, doctors, nurses, psychologists, prosthetists, and physiotherapists convened in Goma for an interprofessional collaboration workshop.

The event, organized by the North Kivu section of the Congolese Physiotherapists Union (UKC) with support from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), focused on harmonizing care strategies. The goal was to ensure a more coordinated approach to the complex medical, psychological, and rehabilitation needs of war victims, who often require specialized intervention at various stages of their treatment.

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We have psychologists, doctors, physiotherapists, and nurses. We are discussing how to manage people affected by war. Each professional intervenes at a specific point in the care pathway, and it is crucial that everyone understands the role of the other.

Jules Makuta, president of the physiotherapists in North Kivu, emphasized the necessity of close coordination among health professionals. "We have psychologists, doctors, physiotherapists, and nurses. We are discussing how to manage people affected by war. Each professional intervenes at a specific point in the care pathway, and it is crucial that everyone understands the role of the other," he stated. This collaborative framework aims to provide a more comprehensive and integrated patient-centered approach.

During the workshop, participants pinpointed several challenges stemming from a lack of service coordination. Makuta cited instances where patients, even after surgery, were not promptly referred to physiotherapy services. This delay can lead to complications such as joint stiffness and ankylosis. The workshop also underscored the critical importance of psychological support, noting that patients suffering from war-related trauma often struggle with physical rehabilitation without adequate mental health care. The inclusion of nurses and prosthetists further aimed to improve continuity of care and address the needs of amputees, who are numerous in conflict zones.

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There are patients who have mental problems and do not collaborate easily with physiotherapists. That is why we considered it necessary to work closely with psychologists.