While Guinea has a relatively low prevalence of HIV, at around 1.4 per cent, just over half of people living with HIV receiving antiretrovirals (ARVs). In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, we run a 31-bed centre in Donka hospital, Conakry, to treat people with advanced HIV.
MSF teams work in Kouroussa prefecture, where we provide training to community health volunteers and health centres to improve the detection, treatment and referral systems for children with illnesses such as malaria. We also treat children with severe malaria at the prefecture-level hospital.
Between April and August 2020, MSF teams provided care to people with mild COVID-19 at a treatment centre in Conakry.
Data and information from the International Activity Report 2021.
In mid-February, Ebola cases were reported in Gouécké, in the southwestern province of Nzérékoré. Although the health authorities rapidly launched a vaccination campaign, MSF identified gaps in the response and sent a team to support community engagement. We raised awareness in prevention and what to do in case of symptoms. We continued activities until the end of March. The outbreak was declared over in June, with a total of 16 confirmed cases and 12 fatalities.
In the capital city Conakry, we supported five health facilities in Matoto district during a measles outbreak, providing care for almost 11,500 children in six months. MSF continues to call on the authorities to deliver a more comprehensive response to measles by engaging in a response campaign, while efforts are needed to reinforce the national vaccination programme to prevent future outbreaks.
On the outskirts of Conakry, we provided staff and medical training to Gbessia health centre on COVID-19, care focusing on patients with HIV. We also supported a COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Kouroussa prefecture, administering almost 40,000 doses in the last two months of 2021.
We also continued to offer free medical and psychosocial care to people living with HIV in Conakry, as well as conducting HIV testing and awareness-raising activities. In March, we set up a new community-managed antiretroviral distribution point in Gomboyah, Coyah prefecture.
In Kouroussa, where we have run a programme on preventing and providing care for malaria, malnutrition and respiratory infections since 2017, we prepared health facilities and communities for our departure in 2022. Through the MSF Academy, we scaled up medical training at Kouroussa hospital and in health centres, supported mechanisms to ensure future funding for community health workers, and started construction of a solar power system that will allow the hospital to function around the clock.
