IMMUNIZATION AND THE FAITH

COMMUNITY IN DRC Dr Helene MAMBU-MA-DISU

Senior Program Officer, Sabin Vaccine Institute

1. Contexte de la RDC

Plusieurs ZS d’accès difficile

Area: 2 .345.000 Km2 Population: 70,000,000 inhabitants Difficult geographic Access infanto juvenile mortality rate: 104 per 1 000 LB (EDS 2013) Decentralized country with 26 provinces, 516 health zones (HZ) and 8830 health areas serviced by health centers No circulating wild polio virus since 4 years A total of 10 antigens being administered to children under five. Measles immunization coverage is 81% (2015)

EXPANDED PROGRAM ON IMMUNIZATION IN DRC

1978 after smallpox eradication Fixed, outreach and mobile

strategies from existing hospitals and health centers.

Mobile strategy in the rest of the national territory

Cold chain often provided by faith-based communities.

Since1980, all immunization activities are integrated in the basic health services except for the campaigns.

Buta Isiro Aru

Lokutu

Kisangani

Bunia

Butembo

Goma

Uvira Bukavu

Kindu

Kalemie

Likasi Lubumbashi

Kamina

Kolwezi

Gbadolite Gemena Bumba

Lisala

Mbandaka Boende

Inongo

Bandundu

Kenge Kikwit Kananga

Tshikapa

Luiza

Luiza Lodja

Kabinda MBJ

MueneD

Boma Mbanza Ng

Matadi

Dépôt Central

Kinshasa

Making Vaccines Available At All the Levels

EPI AT PROVINCIAL LEVEL COORDINATION

ANTENNA 1 ANTENNA 2 ANTENNA 3 ANTENNA 4

Zone de

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Zone de

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Zone de

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Zone de

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Zone de

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Zone de

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Zone de

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Zone de

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Zone de

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Zone de

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Zone de

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Primary Health Care

Decentralized Health Zones

Collaboration with churches in providing PHC and HZ management

Projects to implement the above

Principles for Sustainable Health Systems Development in DR Congo

(established in 1975)

NATIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM DRC is one of first African countries to adopt health district

{health zone (HZ)} as operational entity for planning, implementing and evaluating health activities.

National territory divided in HZs (516 at present)

HZ developed around existing hospitals, (many of which were faith-based) (medical officer, expatriate and or national)

Each HZ divided into health areas covered by existing health centers or to be developed (many of the existing health centers were faith-based) (qualified nurse)

Health promotion activities from the village up with strong participation of churches

Preventive and curative activities from health center up

FBO-managed Health Zones (2015) In 2915 40% of

DR Congo’s 516 health zones

are managed with FBOs/NGOs

Vaccinations GAVI PR SANRU

GAVI in DR Congo with USAID Support

Contributions of Faith-Based Communities to the improvement of immunization coverage in DRC

Provision of cold chain equipment for good quality vaccine storage

Support to community health workers for social mobilization

Provision of immunizations free of charge Social mobilization during church services Training of health personnel Provision of incentives to health personnel

Thank You!