Bon Berger Clinic in Kinshasa Slum Prepares for COVID-19
Bon Berger Clinic entrance in Camp Luka slum
Dr. Delphin Kapasa is founder of the “Good Shepherd” – a small health clinic and development agency in the Camp Luka slum of Kinshasa. As one of our Five & Two Network members, I recently called him to check in and see how they were responding to the Pandemic.
“Are people staying indoors and following the social distancing guidelines?” I asked him.
Laughter.
Not a restrained, don’t-embarrass-the-asker type of chuckle, but a soul-deep, rollicking laughter - I’m sure part cathartic and part amusement at my ignorance.
Dr. Delphin Kapasa-Head of Bon Berger Clinic
In a city like Kinshasa, Congo, where there are high levels of migration, where families live in close quarters, and where livelihoods depend on day-to-day commerce for survival, the idea of having “social distance” is wishful thinking.
We didn’t stay long on the topic however, as Dr. Delphin is more of a glass half-full type of guy. Though Covid-19 is an imminent threat to the community, he knows the Good Shepherd is well-positioned to make a pre-emptive strike. He outlined his plan to mobilize 31 community leaders over the next 5 months to prepare the community and advocate the government for greater responsiveness.
COVID-19 awareness campaign in Kinshasa
If you’ve followed the Five & Two blog in the past, you may remember the “Chefs des Rues” story - The “Chiefs of the Streets” in Camp Luka. Previously, Dr. Delphin had mobilized this traditional system of community action and accountability in order to educate families on health and sanitation. His foresight to confront health problems at the household level not only reduced pressure on his clinic, but also worked to mobilize the assets, energy and enthusiasm of the community.
Nurses and staff of Bon Berger Clinic
Under the voluntary leadership of the Chefs des Rues, extremely poor families were combining their money, time and ideas to build latrines, harvest rainwater, and share vital health information. Unbelievably, almost all the costs for these small projects were being covered by the community itself, one of the poorest in all of Africa. Most importantly, the community now has a ready network of community builders and health advocates that can be tapped for service in a time of crisis.
Five & Two Board Chair, Dr. Murray Nickel notes that “when people are treated with respect as equals, they recognize their value. When they discover they have value, they find they have something to contribute. As contributors, they become a part of a community and a part of a solution.”
Camp Luka slum area where Bon Berger is located
But is building a community of contributors and problem-solvers any match for the coming Covid-19 contagion? I guess we’ll find out. We’re prayerful that Africa will somehow dodge the bullet, and hopefully the well-oiled community health machine of Camp Luka will make a dent in its overall impact. But regardless of health outcomes, Camp Luka is already a success story. While governments and agencies across Africa wait to see if the humanitarian spotlight will move in their direction, Dr. Delphin and the Chefs des Rues are already working in the shadows.
So what is our role in the process? If we get too caught up in problem-solving through our own funding and expertise, we steal the opportunity for communities to develop the kind of resilience we see in Camp Luka. On the other hand, when we do see communities that have developed “agency”, we feel more confident that our intervention will not create dependency but will fan the flame of the work they are doing.
Sewing masks in Kinshasa
With this in mind, we have recently sent much needed provisions to Bon Berger – gloves, masks, gowns and soap - for the basic protection of the clinic staff. In addition to that, we are providing funds to foster the work of the ‘Chefs des Rues’ who will be handing out soap and hand sanitizer as well as printed brochures and posters as they educate their community. Please help us advance this work during this critical time.