Title: Free maternity in the DR Congo: an ambitious program to improve women’s health conditions
Introduction :
The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, recently launched a free maternity program aimed at ending situations where women were held hostage due to the inability to pay maternity fees. This initiative, supported by the Minister of Public Health Samuel-Roger Kamba, is implemented in 50 general reference hospitals in Kinshasa, with the aim of reducing the high rate of maternal and infant mortality in this region.
Program details:
According to the Minister of Public Health, Samuel-Roger Kamba, more than 50 general reference hospitals are ready to set up the free maternity program. The population is invited to dial *151# on their mobile phone to obtain information on participating hospitals in Kinshasa. The program aims to provide free, quality health care to pregnant women, ending a worrying situation where many women could not access necessary care due to financial constraints.
The objectives of the program:
Felix Tshisekedi justifies the choice of Kinshasa because of the high rate of maternal and infant mortality in this region. He affirms that this program will be gradually extended to other provinces of the country in order to improve the living and working conditions of health providers. The objective is to set up quality health care in 320 health centers and 50 general referral hospitals, to create financial protection mechanisms for service users, and to establish a regulatory and governance mechanism. to ensure continuity of care.
Challenges and criticisms:
However, despite its laudable ambition, the free maternity program faces doubts and criticisms. Some inhabitants of Kinshasa wonder about its feasibility, its sustainability, the quality of the services offered and the respect of the rights and salaries of the doctors who will work on a voluntary basis. Consideration of these concerns is essential to ensure the success and sustainability of this program.
Conclusion :
The establishment of the free maternity program in DR Congo is an important initiative to improve the health conditions of women and reduce the rate of maternal and infant mortality. It is essential to ensure its effective implementation, taking into account the concerns and challenges raised, in order to guarantee access to quality health care for all pregnant women. Such a program is a step towards a more inclusive and equitable health system in DR Congo.