ABSTRACT Background and Aim Since its establishment by the World Health Organization (WHO), the surgical safety checklist (SSC) is variably adopted worldwide despite evidence of advantages related to its use. To our knowledge, no data exists about the use of the SSC in DRC. We aimed to report the frequency of its use and reasons for its non‐use. Methods Using Google Forms, a survey was conducted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo public hospitals for 20 days (25 April to 15 May 2024). Results Fifty‐nine hospitals were included in the survey, and 32 (54.2%) are using the SSC for a mean time of 4 (± 2) years. Of these, 16 (50%) use it regularly, with a surgeon coordinating the checklist process in 14 hospitals (43.8%). Twenty‐seven hospitals do not use the SSC due to the absence of training for its use in 16 hospitals (59.3%) or due to the unavailability of the SSC in 15 hospitals (55.6%). Conclusion Half of the public hospitals in DRC have used the SSC for an average of 4 years. Lack of previous training and unavailability of the SCC are the main reasons of its non‐use. Seminars and training on the use of SSC would allow its use in these health facilities.
Background Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) of the deltoid muscle is an exceptionally rare condition, typically associated with fractures or crush injuries. In low-resource settings, the lack of intracompartmental pressure monitoring devices makes diagnosis purely clinical and challenging, often leading to delays in management. Case Presentation : A 56-year-old male, Ugandan, who presented with severe, unremitting right shoulder pain and swelling days after a road traffic accident. Despite the absence of a fracture on radiography, physical examination revealed a tense, non-compressible swelling of the deltoid compartment with pain exacerbated by passive stretch. Based on clinical, a diagnosis of right deltoid compartment syndrome was made. An emergency fasciotomy was performed under procedural sedation using a modified V-shaped incision. Intraoperative findings included a large, organized hematoma within the muscle belly. The patient had an uneventful postoperative recovery with preservation of deltoid function. Conclusion This case highlights the critical importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for ACS in patients with shoulder trauma, even without bony injury. It further demonstrates that in resource-constrained environments, successful limb salvage can be achieved through adaptive surgical strategies, such as bedside fasciotomy under sedation and the use of extensile incisions for adequate decompression.
The mountainous Bushi agrosystem, particularly in the Kabare and Walungu territories of eastern Democratic republic of Congo (DRC), constitutes a major banana-producing region where the crop plays a pivotal role in food security and rural household. This study examined the sociodemographic characteristics of farmers and the key drivers influencing banana productivity across different agroecological contets. The study area was stratified into three agroecological zones (AEZ1, AEZ2 and AEZ3) based on biophysical conditions. Data were collected from 425 banana farms distributed across these zones. Results show that bananas cultivation is predominantly practiced under intercropping systems (87.47%), commonly associated with cassava, common beans, and maize. However, monocropping systems exhibited significantly higher yields with an average productivity of 24.672 ± 9.948 t/ha compared to 14.293 ± 8.948 t/ha under intercropping. Several sociodemographic and management factors were found to significantly influence banana productivity ( p < 0.05 ), including farmer age, membership in agricultural cooperatives, type of fertilizer used, source of labor, and main occupation. Higher productivity levels were associated with older farmers, cooperative membership, and the use of mineral fertilizers. In addition, farmers employing salaried labor and those whose primary occupation lies in the public sector achieved better yields, likely reflecting greater financial capacity and improved farm management practices. Regression analysis further confirmed the positive and significant effects of these variables on banana productivity (OR > 1, p < 0.05). Despite these opportunities, banana production in the region remains constrained by multiple factors, including biotic pressures (diseases, pests), abiotic stresses (strong winds, decline soil fertility), limited access to credit and improved planting materials, and inadequate agricultural tools and practices.
We assessed the impact and durability of an infection prevention and control (IPC) bundle intervention during the Kivu/Ituri Ebola virus outbreak (2018-2020). IPC scores increased, then declined 6 months postintervention (median 19/36, 30/36, and 28/36, P < .0001). Without sustained IPC, health facilities remain vulnerable to nosocomial transmission in future outbreaks.
Abstract The city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo faces significant volcanic hazards from Nyiragongo volcano, yet these dangers are largely overlooked in urban planning and land use strategies. Effective evacuation plans for potential volcanic disasters depend on a thorough understanding of the geospatial characteristics of the evacuation environment, which can change over time. This study assesses risks associated with volcanic hazards in Goma, focusing on exposure to lava flows and the dangers of CO2-rich gas emission areas known locally as Mazuku. Using QGIS and Q-LavHA tools, mapping and simulations were conducted based on historical eruption data from 1977, 2002, and 2021 to model lava flow paths towards Goma from eight eruption vents. The findings indicate that over half of Goma is at high risk from volcanic hazards, particularly in areas where the majority of the population and critical infrastructure are located. To enhance community resilience in line with the eleventh Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 11), this paper proposes evacuation scenarios and mitigation strategies based on a detailed hazard and exposure assessment. The result of this study shows that eleven neighborhoods in the east of Goma city are located in the potential lava flow corridor and that roads, lake ports and part of the airport are potentially exposed to volcanic hazards. This study contributes to global methodologies for assessing volcanic hazard exposure in data poor regions. In addition, the proposed geospatial environment model is crucial for developing agent-based simulation studies to improve evacuation effectiveness during volcanic events.
