The story of Augustin, a cholera survivor

"It was Tuesday, February 26, and I was coming back from a meeting in town to get my glasses," recalls Augustin, a resident of Lubumbashi, a city in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). While sitting in the taxi, Augustin began to feel nauseous and had to rush to the bathroom. "I hurried to stop the driver so that he would stop," continues the father of four children, who felt weak and without strength. Finding, nevertheless, the courage to walk, Augustin arrived home but his condition was deteriorating. After hours of diarrhoea and vomiting, he went to the nearest health centre. Worried by his condition, the nurse referred Augustin directly to the cholera treatment centre in the city.

"Once there, the care began immediately", explains Augustin, who didn’t really know what was happening to him. For a whole week, medical teams took turns at Augustin's bedside and other patients in care at the Lubumbashi cholera treatment centre. When his condition finally began to improve, Augustin was able to go home.

Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water. "I have not yet identified the true cause of my illness, but I understood that we must use drinking water and wash our hands regularly," continues Augustin. Since his return home, the head of household ensures cleanliness in the house and in the handling of cans and containers. He also ensures that water is always available at the entrance of the house and toilets.

In January 2019, a cholera epidemic was declared in the province of Haut-Katanga. UNICEF supports the Government by backing treatment centres, ensuring the availability of safe drinking water in affected areas and raising awareness of prevention measures.

"What I learned from this experience is that it’s necessary to take care of your health," concludes Augustin, who keeps reiterating good practices to those around him.