Programme description

Title: HIV/AIDS Control and Strengthening of the Health System
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: DR Congo
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Health
Overall term: 2005 to 2014

Context

No one knows the exact numbers, but according to estimates, 5 to 10 percent of the 50 million Congolese are infected with HIV. The consequences are catastrophic for those affected, their families and the country’s social and economic development. Little or no medical care is available – not only for people with AIDS but also for persons with other diseases. As a result of poverty in the DR Congo, malaria, diarrhoea and respiratory and other illnesses are on the rise. The rate of infant mortality is 126 per 1,000 newborns. Some 1,300 mothers out of 100,000 die in childbirth. Yet the only counterbalance to the people’s great need for effective prevention and treatment of these diseases – first and foremost AIDS – is a health system that is critically disabled. 

On behalf of the German Government, GIZ is supporting the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in its fight against HIV/AIDS and with improving the national health system.

Objective

The prevention and reduction of risks to health, especially HIV/AIDS, have become more effective in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A coherent national health policy has been formulated. 

Approach

Work is based on the DR Congo’s draft poverty reduction strategy of March 2002 and the national health plan of 2004.

GIZ advises the Congolese Ministry of Health and non-governmental and grassroots organisations on developing and implementing innovative approaches to fighting AIDS and controlling other poverty-related risks to health. In this way the programme makes a contribution to the shaping of national health policy. Practical testing of measures within the framework of the programme is being conducted in five provinces.

The German contribution consists of providing – in addition to advisory services – materials, equipment and training.

Results achieved so far

The programme builds on the results of a series of previous GTZ (since January 2011 GIZ) projects to fight AIDS and improve the health system in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

• The project in Kinshasa to prevent AIDS infection via blood transfusions had ensured by 2003 that more than 70 percent of Kinshasa’s blood requirements could be covered. The population gained better access to anti-retroviral medication via outpatient treatment centres in the capital and the important cities of Lubumbashi, Bukavu, Kisangani and Mbuji Mayi. 
• An HIV/AIDS prevention project promoted centres for counselling and diagnosis, out-patient treatment centres for people infected with HIV, and in-company programmes and information campaigns for persons belonging to high-risk groups, such as soldiers, prostitutes and prisoners, and also for young people and company employees.
• A project to improve basic health services promoted special national programmes and measures to improve reproductive health, the government’s malaria programme, and a programme promoting socially structured public health insurance companies.