Article – General reference hospitals ready for the free maternity program in Kinshasa
The Minister of Public Health, Samuel-Roger Kamba, announced that more than 50 general reference hospitals in Kinshasa are ready to implement the free maternity program, recently launched by President Félix Tshisekedi. This initiative aims to put an end to the situation where women were prevented from accessing care due to the inability to pay maternity costs.
Minister Kamba invited the population to dial the number *151# on their mobile phone to find out about the hospitals selected under this program. He stressed that this measure was an important step to improve the living and working conditions of health providers and contribute to the reduction of maternal and infant mortality in Kinshasa.
President Tshisekedi justified the choice of Kinshasa for the launch of this program because of the high rate of maternal and infant mortality in this region. He assured that this program would gradually be extended to other provinces of the country, with the aim of improving health care and ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of resources.
However, despite the announcement of this program, doubts remain about its feasibility and sustainability. Some residents of Kinshasa are questioning the effectiveness of the free service, the quality of the care offered and the working conditions of the doctors who will be involved in this project. It is essential that the authorities ensure rigorous monitoring of this program in order to guarantee its success and meet the health needs of the population.
In conclusion, the launch of the free maternity program in Kinshasa is a significant step forward in the field of health in the DRC. However, challenges remain to ensure the effective implementation of this program and guarantee access to quality care for all pregnant women. It is therefore essential that the authorities put in place the necessary mechanisms to ensure continuity of care, transparency and accountability in the management of resources.