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VIP NewsLetter Vol. 2
October 31, 2017
Dear Friend of VIP,
Let me first thank you for your prayers and other support for our efforts to bring change to the Congo. VIP is working worldwide to bring awareness to the tragedy that exists for the citizens of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). From this awareness we are moving forward to bring action in the voting booth to expedite the improvement of the Congolese living conditions and to set in motion the path for the Congolese to have control of their lives and destiny. For this newsletter, I would like to talk about the most immediate need facing the Congolese, the health and safety of our DRC citizens.
With the last 20 years of war and the lack of basic human essentials, did you know that the number of deaths in the DRC just over the last 10 years has risen to twice that of the number of Holocaust victims during WWII? In the Congo, this trend is growing to the level of genocide of a whole peaceful culture and ethnic race of African people. It is not too hard to say that the DRC is facing a health and safety crisis not seen anywhere since the 1940's.
The short video from the Doctors Without Borders describes the medical conditions in the DRC.
The VIP team has highlighted the vision that we feel will lead to better health and safety conditions in the DRC.
- Disease prevention
- Free medical care
- Universality of sick leave and health insurance
- Reduction of infant and maternal mortality
- Reduction of disease caused by malnutrition
- High quality health education, including women's health and prenatal care
- Compliance with the World Health Organization
- Modern hospital facilities
- Appropriate care for the disabled and the elderly
- Consumer protection through better food security
- High quality medical drugs
- National program for medical records and the tracking of patience care
- Healthy food intake
- Fight against tropical diseases
- Special attention to first aid and first responder-emergency medical services
- Steady increase in life expectancy
It is imperative to focus on basic emergency services, which include fire suppression, and emergency medical services to ensure a high level of quality and responsiveness. Achieving these goals will assuredly lead to an increase in life expectancy.
This past week I toured the West Chester Medical Center (WCMC). WCMC is a subsidiary of the University of Cincinnati Hospital Health System. I was impressed by many things, including their mission, vision and values, and see this as a model for the Congo.
WCMC believes in the commitments of serving our community with excellence and compassion, and in providing the best health care to all who enter our hospital. Their Purpose, Mission, Vision, and Values correspond to those we intend to bring to the Congo for health care.
- Purpose: Advance healing and reduce suffering.
- Mission: Advance medicine and improving the health of all people – regardless of race, ethnicity, geography or ability to pay – by fostering groundbreaking medical research and education, delivering outstanding primary and specialty care services and building a diverse workforce.
- Vision: Use the power of academic medicine to advance the science of discovery and transform the delivery of care.
- Values: Patients and Families First, Respect, Integrity, Inclusion, Discovery, and Empathy
I have included pictures of the tour.
I met with Tom Daskalakis, the Chief Administrative Officer of West Chester Medical Center in Cincinnati. We discussed how we can continue to work toward connecting our vastly different communities and achieving a transfer of knowledge and technology to African nations.
I discussed new medical technologies and their impact on patient outcomes. Here, I am looking at a dialysis machine and its components.
In addition to quality medical facilities, it is important for the Congo to have a trained and properly staffed first responder system in place to care for those in emergency conditions. I toured a first responder facility at Turtle Creek Fire Station, Ohio, US.
US is one of the best countries in the world in emergency services. I met with Assistant Chief Jameson and discussed different techniques and equipment needed for fire rescue.
To help our understanding of the different techniques and strategies needed for excellent emergency system apparatus, I discussed with Assistant Chief Jameson the different operations and training that they undergo to improve their responses.
Thank you again for your prayers and support. We will continue to bring these VIP updates to you with a hope that working together, we will bring real change to the Congo.
God bless you and God bless the Congo, our home and future,
EDDY BANGUDI DISHUEME
Président National, La Voix Indépendante du Peuple (VIP)
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