Congo's Mental Health Crisis - Launched August 5, 2014 - Full multimedia experience: audio, stills, text and or video: Go to zReportage.com to see more - Twenty years after conflict broke out in eastern Congo, little has been done to treat people that suffered unspeakable acts of violence and consequently mental illness is on the rise in the region. Too often the trauma left in the wake of these atrocities is overlooked and underfunded. According to the Mental Health Program, at least 15 million Congolese have mental disorders, doctors lack the basic resources needed to treat patients in a country where life expectancy is 48. D R Congo's Ministry of Health reveals that in the country, with a population of 65 million, there are only six psychiatric hospitals. One run by the government, the other five are in the under the Brothers of Charity. A lack of belief in western medicine complicates the situation, and some families are unable to pay for medication, leaving most cases untreated. Lack of government support isn't the only obstacle, in this traditional society, mental illnesses are associated with witchcraft, and cases are brought to traditional healers or witchdoctors, leaving psychiatric facilities as the last call. It has been 12 years since the end of the Second Congo War but its aftermath still remains in the East. Dozens of armed groups keep attacking, looting and raping the population while mental traumas keep rising creating a public health crisis in the third largest country in Africa.
© Patrick Meinhardt/zReportage.com/ZUMA Press
April 15, 2014 - Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo - Some patients like DEO KAKULE arrive to the mental institution with leg irons. These cases normally come from remote areas where there is no assistance.
© Patrick Meinhardt/zReportage.com/ZUMA Press
April 16, 2014 - Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo - Modern medicine has to struggle with traditional healers and praying houses. Easily preventable or treatable illnesses are more complicated to treat because of late diagnosis.
© Patrick Meinhardt/zReportage.com/ZUMA Press
Aug. 21, 2013 - Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo - JAQUELINE is a displaced from war. She suffers from schizophrenia and doesn't know where her family is. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) the ongoing armed conflict in the East has resulted in 2.6 millions internally displaced people by mid-2013.
© Patrick Meinhardt/zReportage.com/ZUMA Press
Aug. 21, 2013 - Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo - CHRISTINE KAHINDO was raped by 5 soldiers on the way to her parent's house. Most of these women are abandoned by their husbands after they've been raped. They think they cooperated and they consider them damaged goods. They have to leave their homes and end up in refugee camps.
© Patrick Meinhardt/zReportage.com/ZUMA Press
April 12, 2014 - Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo - A patient participates in a Electroencephalography (EGG) test at the Mental institution ''Tulizo Letu'', (our comfort) run by the Brothers of Charity. EGG testing is used at the institution to detect Epilepsy among other brain-related injuries.
© Patrick Meinhardt/zReportage.com/ZUMA Press
April 22, 2014 - Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo - Mental institution ''Tulizo Letu'', (our comfort) run by the Brothers of Charity. Armed conflict, sexual violence, displacement and poverty are key factors that explain the prevalence of mental health disorders in DRC.
© Patrick Meinhardt/zReportage.com/ZUMA Press
April 22, 2014 - Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo - A patient at the mental institution ''Tulizo Letu'', (our comfort) run by the Brothers of Charity.
© Patrick Meinhardt/zReportage.com/ZUMA Press
April 17, 2014 - Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo - Praying houses and healers are usually their first option. Witchcraft and traditional healing are important within congolese culture.
© Patrick Meinhardt/zReportage.com/ZUMA Press
April 19, 2014 - Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo - NYOTA KANYERE says she healed from mental illness thanks to Pastor Moise Munyuabumba.
© Patrick Meinhardt/zReportage.com/ZUMA Press
April 22, 2014 - Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo - AGANZE DAGANO LEVI during a kynesiotherapy session. Random attacks from rebel groups create stressful situations on pregnant women that can damage the fetus permanently. This creates an increasing number of children born with mental handicaps.
© Patrick Meinhardt/zReportage.com/ZUMA Press
April 22, 2014 - Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo - Families who can afford it put their children in ''L'acole de Vie'', the only school for mentally disabled children in the region. As with adults, some children can be problematic and need constant surveillance.
© Patrick Meinhardt/zReportage.com/ZUMA Press
April 15, 2014 - Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo - Mental illness does not always receive the same benefit as other health sectors. Institutions like the one run by the Brothers of Charity have to find a way to support themselves through donations and their network in Europe.
© Patrick Meinhardt/zReportage.com/ZUMA Press
April 23, 2014 - Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo - KOME KATENGA joined the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (ADFL) during the first Congo War in 1997 when he was only 16 years old. This coalition of Congolese dissidents led by Laurent Kabila was known by its brutality and for having child soldiers among its troops. In 2002 KOME started drinking. He has been in mental institutions seven times ever since.
© Patrick Meinhardt/zReportage.com/ZUMA Press
April 23, 2014 - Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo - ABIMANA LUSHOMBO has epilepsy. The ongoing conflict impoverishes the region, creating unemployment that drags Goma's youth to drug and alcohol abuse. Symptoms may include depression, hallucinations or schizophrenia.
© Patrick Meinhardt/zReportage.com/ZUMA Press
April 23, 2014 - Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo - Doctor MOISE MBUSA regularly visits the patients. Some people have to take medication for life. Problems exist such as accessing remote areas and most of the patients have to come by foot to get their weekly medication compromises the treatment.
© Patrick Meinhardt/zReportage.com/ZUMA Press
April 24, 2014 - Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo - ISAAC RWANAMIZA is a traditional healer from the Bakumu tribe. He only heals when the cause of the illness is witchcraft. When the cause is natural he sends the patient to a hospital. Traditional healers are recognized by the Congolese government and supported by the ministry of health.
© Patrick Meinhardt/zReportage.com/ZUMA Press
April 25, 2014 - Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo - Traditional healers use all sorts of fetishes for curing diseases.
© Patrick Meinhardt/zReportage.com/ZUMA Press
April 25, 2014 - Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo - ISAAC RWANAMIZA has several patients every day. He can charge up to 70 dollars for one consultation.
© Patrick Meinhardt/zReportage.com/ZUMA Press
April 26, 2014 - Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo - Praying houses can be found everywhere in Goma. Most of them belong to the pentecostal movement which believes in divine healing through prayer and considers illness a consequence of the fall of man. BEAT MEKARUBAMBA has breast cancer. The Pastor says this is because she is the second wife of a polygamist and that she will only heal when she accepts her sins.
© Patrick Meinhardt/zReportage.com/ZUMA Press
April 26, 2014 - Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo - LWANDA BINWA participates in a healing session. Praying houses have become a problem for mental institutions. Most congolese only go to mental institutions as a last resort when traditional methods don't work therefore making healing even more complicated or impossible as the disease could be too advanced.
© Patrick Meinhardt/zReportage.com/ZUMA Press
April 26, 2014 - Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo - Pastor MOISE MUNYUABUMBA runs the 8th CEPAC Galilaya Church.
© Patrick Meinhardt/zReportage.com/ZUMA Press
