In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), FHI 360 collaborates with the Ministry of Health to strengthen health care delivery systems, improve measures to prevent HIV and sexually transmitted infections, and increase positive health behaviors through evidence-based behavior change communication. FHI 360 supports the DRC’s Ministry of Health in the following areas: protection of women and girls, HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health, nutrition, and water and sanitation. Our programs target people who have a high likelihood of exposure to HIV or other life-threatening illnesses, and our programs provide training for health care workers on issues such as preventing perinatal transmission of HIV. We also assist in the development of communication strategies for social and behavior change at both the national and provincial levels; integrate nutrition approaches into care packages for people living with HIV; and introduce appropriate technology to improve data collection. In addition, FHI 360 bolsters the DRC’s ability to use strategic information systems, supporting its capacity to plan, monitor and evaluate evidence-based interventions.
FHI 360 carries out interventions in six provinces, including the capital city of Kinshasa, Katanga, South Kivu, Kasai Oriental, Kasai Occidental and Orientale provinces. We provide capacity building assistance to the government and local Congolese organizations in order to not only improve health service delivery, but also to address major development challenges. For example, FHI 360’s Communication for Change (C-Change) project developed a comprehensive approach for promoting positive social attitudes to prevent and mitigate violence among students at primary and secondary schools in Katanga province. By focusing this initiative on the school environment in Katanga, the aim is to break this cycle and decrease violence in the target schools and communities at large.
