SANRU’s partnership with the Ministry of Health to mobilize faith-based networks and serving as a principal recipient of GAVI funds in DR Congo will showcase how faith-based organizations contribute to stronger health systems and supply chains for immunizations.

1. IMMUNIZATION
AND THE FAITH
COMMUNITY IN DRC
Dr Helene MAMBU-MA-DISU
Senior Program Officer, Sabin Vaccine Institute

2. 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)

3. 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.

4. 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
KabindaMBJ
MueneD
Boma
Mbanza Ng
Matadi
Dépôt
Central
Kinshasa
Making Vaccines Available At All the Levels

5. EPI AT PROVINCIAL LEVEL
COORDINATION
ANTENNA 1 ANTENNA 2 ANTENNA 3 ANTENNA 4
Zone
de
santé
Zone
de
santé
Zone
de
santé
Zone
de
santé
Zone
de
santé
Zone
de
santé
Zone
de
santé
Zone
de
santé
Zone
de
santé
Zone
de
santé
Zone
de
santé
Zone
de
santé
Zone
de
santé
Zone
de
santé
Zone
de
santé
Zone
de
santé

6.  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)

7. 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

8. FBO-managed Health Zones (2015)
In 2915 40% of
DR Congo’s
516 health zones
are managed
with FBOs/NGOs

9. Vaccinations
GAVI PR
SANRU
GAVI in DR Congo with USAID Support

10. 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

11. Thank You!