New program to fight against malaria and river blindness in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Fortescue, a company specializing in green energy and natural resources, recently announced the launch of a new program aimed at combating malaria and river blindness in the Inga region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This program builds on more than two years of work within the communities of the region and aims to strengthen existing public health measures while ensuring the sustainability of the program through the involvement of local communities. Fortescue will implement this program in close collaboration with the Congolese authorities.
At the launch event, Fortescue was joined by diplomatic representatives from Spain, France, Belgium, Germany and South Africa, as well as officials from the Ministry of Health. Public and the Congolese Environment Agency.
The main actions of this new program include indoor and outdoor spraying as well as the use of larvicides to control malaria-carrying mosquitoes, as well as a spraying campaign supervised by public health actors to reduce the population of ” harmful black flies. In addition, a training program will be put in place to train and certify local community members on vector control measures, under the supervision of health specialists.
The objective of this program is to significantly reduce the rate of river blindness and the prevalence of malaria in Inga and in the surrounding villages, within a radius of thirty kilometers. According to the World Health Organization, vector control is essential for the prevention of tropical diseases. Complementing existing public health interventions such as the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets and residual spraying, this program will significantly improve the health situation in the region.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has significant potential in the field of renewable energies and green industries. Fortescue is committed to supporting and empowering local communities as part of the Green Industries Project in the DRC, which aims to develop one of the largest sources of renewable energy in the world, notably with the Inga hydroelectric site.
By working closely with local communities, Fortescue is committed to developing the DRC’s potential for renewable energy and green industries, to improve access to electricity and foster economic growth. from the country.
In conclusion, the new malaria and river blindness control program launched by Fortescue in the Democratic Republic of Congo marks a significant advance in public health in the region. By involving local communities in the implementation of the program, Fortescue ensures that the benefits flow directly to the populations concerned