“Thanks to this pill, I am alive”, says Rose Bomboso, while taking her ARV medication. Rose lives in an isolated village up north in DR Congo. She is one of many thousands of HIV/AIDS and TB patients in DRC that receive treatment thanks to Cordaid, our local partners, the DRC Ministry of Health and generous support of the Global Fund.  The video ‘Follow the Pill: the last mile in DR Congo’ shows you what it takes to get the medication where it is needed most.

Cordaid has been active in DR Congo since the 1970s, and has built up an extensive network of partner organizations. Cordaid wants the people of DR Congo to once again be able to contribute to the development of their country’s basic facilities and work towards peace, safety and justice.

Since 2012 Cordaid is the Principal Recipient of the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In close collaboration with the DRC Ministry of Health, Cordaid fights HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis in 65% of all health zones of DRCs vast territory. In 2017, 85.806 adults received antiretroviral therapy. We do this by transporting 667 tons of medicines annually and providing other forms of support to more than 3.500 health facilities. Even in the most remote and conflict-affected areas. Transport takes place by air, by car, motorbike and, in the end, to reach the last mile, also by bicycle and by foot. This work is badly needed. Only 40% of people living with HIV in DR Congo have access to treatment. Yet for all of them, treatment and medication are matters of survival.

Medicine stocks in times of conflict

In different parts of DRC, armed conflict regularly puts ARV drug supply at risk. This is why, at all times, the Global Fund program aims to assure a 3 months stock of medicines in the health centers. “But medication is not enough”, says Dr Christian Bambako of the Lomboko health center in the village of Yangambi. “Consultations, follow up of patients and the prevention of diseases and infection is just as essential”, he continues. Dr Bambako, just like the other health centers involved in the Global Fund program, closely involves the communities in their health zones. Breaking taboos that still cling to HIV, countering discrimination against people living with HIV, preventing infections and getting people tested is what they do in villages and urban areas. “Together we are able to stop the scourge of HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis”, Dr Bambako concludes.

This is what thousands of health centers and their surrounding communities in DR Congo do. Day in day out, in dire circumstances and with few resources.

By 2020 Cordaid is committed to:

  • enroll 95% of TB and HIV co-infected patients on ARV drugs;
  • ensure HIV testing of 90% of TB patients;
  • maintain treatment success rates for confirmed cases of at least 90%;
  • reduce the impact of human rights violations related to HIV;

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Contribution by Cordaid to the 2018 Annual Report of the MMI Network

“We, the patients, had to find solutions ourselves.” The story of Clarisse Mawaki who runs a community care center for people living with HIV in one of the poorest quarters of Kinshasa (also supported by Cordaid through the Global Fund).
https://www.cordaid.org/en/news/hiv-kinshasa-patients-had-to-find-solutions-themselves/

Watch this video and follow the pill in DR Congo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=IZHbSd8YG2c

Communities