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 program to prevent future outbreaks. On the outskirts of Conakry, we provided staff and medical training to Gbessia health center on COVID care focusing on patients with HIV and 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 program 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 centers, 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.
