Today we are going to discuss the news from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). DRC Public Health Minister Roger Samuel Kamba recently met Albert Zeufack, the World Bank representative in his country, to discuss universal health coverage (UHC) for Congolese. The purpose of this meeting was to determine how the government and the World Bank can work together to improve the health of Congolese citizens.
During their discussion, the two sides discussed the goals of UHC, including reducing maternal and child mortality and ensuring quality care for all Congolese. They also decided to continue the free childbirth programs which are already financed in twelve pilot provinces, with the help of the World Bank.
The World Bank has decided to extend this funding to ensure the continuity of this free assistance. The World Bank representative described the meeting as “extremely technical” but said it had been an opportunity to learn about President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi’s vision for universal health coverage.
In addition, the discussion also focused on future opportunities for collaboration in areas such as nutrition. It is expected that further discussions will take place in the coming days to develop a costed UHC strategy and allow the World Bank to work with the Congolese government to put in place new instruments.
In conclusion, this discussion is a step forward in improving the health of the citizens of the DRC. Collaboration between the Congolese government and the World Bank is key to achieving UHC goals and ensuring quality care for all. These are essential actions to improve the health of the Congolese population