It all began with the detection of several suspected measles cases at the Zabout camp. Lab tests quickly confirmed the disease was circulating, leading to the establishment of a monitoring and response unit. ALIMA and Alerte Santé teams worked in coordination with health authorities and humanitarian organizations present in the area, with support from the Start Fund.
“As a clinician, our role was to ensure patient care during the outbreak.”
Dr. Ayambi Evariste, attending physician and clinical activities supervisor.
Suspected cases were treated according to established treatment protocols. Patients with complications were referred to Goz Beida Provincial Hospital to receive appropriate care.
At the same time, a response committee was established, bringing together health workers and community relays. Their mission was to visit households throughout the camp to identify suspected cases, inform families, and refer them to the health center.
The response in figures
- Over 100 suspected cases recorded during the response period
- A vaccination campaign carried out in the camp and surrounding villages
- Over 95% of the vaccination target reached
One Outbreak, Three Priorities: Awareness, Surveillance, and Vaccination
As the disease spread, three areas of intervention were implemented simultaneously. A community awareness campaign was first launched to inform Sudanese refugee families about measles symptoms, the risk of complications, and the importance of seeking care quickly.
At the beginning of the outbreak, some families hesitated to visit the health center. Measles symptoms were sometimes mistaken for other illnesses, while fear of contagion led some residents to avoid the health facility altogether.
With the support of community relays, teams went directly to families to address their concerns, correct misconceptions, and encourage them to have their children examined.
Active surveillance was then introduced to continuously identify new cases and quickly refer them to health facilities.
The vaccination campaign was the third key pillar of the response. Carried out both in the camp and in surrounding villages, it reached over 95% of the target population, a result Dr. Evariste considers one of the intervention’s main successes.
Following this active phase, teams continued surveillance efforts, relying in particular on community health workers trained to detect any potential new cases.
Communication: A Major Challenge at the Start of the Outbreak
When asked about the main obstacles encountered, Dr. Evariste does not mention medicines or human resources, but rather community awareness.
In a camp where measles symptoms were sometimes misunderstood or mistaken for other illnesses, encouraging families to seek care at the health center proved to be one of the main challenges.
“Our biggest challenge was raising awareness,” he explains.
Fear of contagion led some people to avoid the health facility, delaying diagnosis and treatment.
“At first, some families were afraid to come to the health center. We had to explain the disease to them, reassure them, and show them that their children could receive care there safely.”
Through continued discussions led by medical teams and community relays, families gradually became more willing to seek health care, making both treatment and vaccination efforts more effective. From the earliest stages of an outbreak, communication emerged as one of the key factors in an effective response.
Lessons Learned: Investing in Primary Prevention
Information gathered by the teams showed that the children treated had either not been vaccinated against measles or had not received all the recommended doses. In a densely populated camp that continues to receive people fleeing the conflict in Sudan, the emergence of new cases can quickly lead to further spread of the disease.
For Dr. Evariste, the lesson is clear: efforts must focus more on prevention upstream.
“We need to invest much more in primary prevention, especially vaccination,” he emphasizes.
Strengthening routine vaccination, particularly when refugees first arrive and register at the camp, would be one of the most effective ways to better protect children and limit the risk of future outbreaks.
Ten Months with ALIMA: A Valuable Learning Experience
Beyond the outbreak response itself, Dr. Evariste also reflects on his experience with the organization. Having joined ALIMA nearly a year earlier, he highlights the importance placed on continuous training, including clinical care, outbreak management, and improving the quality of care. These are skills and knowledge he was able to apply directly during the response in Zabout.
“As a humanitarian NGO, ALIMA pushes us to give our best, even in difficult conditions. By working together, we were able to accomplish great things.”
His words capture the spirit that drives ALIMA’s teams in Chad: working with the resources available, building long-term skills, and always placing communities at the heart of the response.
Cover photo: © Freddy MALO/ALIMA
