Free maternity in Kinshasa: a beneficial step forward for Congolese women
Since September 5, a historic measure has been implemented in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This concerns free maternity and newborn care. This government decision aims to facilitate access to health services for pregnant women and reduce the prohibitive costs that often dissuade them from going to health centers.
The first signs of implementation of this measure are already being felt in certain health centers in the city. Radio Okapi reporters were able to see that women were being cared for free for their childbirth. Doctors confirm that free maternity is indeed effective and that women can now benefit from care without having to pay.
This news is welcomed with enthusiasm by many women who previously faced financial difficulties accessing maternity care. Marie, a thirty-year-old who came to give birth, testifies: “I came to give birth and I was informed there that maternity is now free. I went to the cash register. Then the doctors asked me to keep my money.” Thanks to this measure, she was able to save the money she had initially planned for maternity expenses.
However, not all health centers are yet fully ready to apply this measure. Some are still finalizing the final necessary adjustments. The Ministry of Public Health indicates that more than 320 health centers and 50 general reference hospitals are affected by this program.
In order to facilitate the identification of health establishments participating in free maternity, the ministry recommends that the population use the call number *151# on their mobile phone.
This major advance in the field of maternal health in the Democratic Republic of Congo will allow many women to access essential health services without having to worry about high costs. It will thus contribute to improving the care of pregnant women and reducing the maternal mortality rate in the country.
However, it remains to ensure effective implementation of this measure in all health establishments in Kinshasa, as well as to guarantee the quality of care and infrastructure. This will require rigorous coordination and monitoring by health authorities.
Free maternity in Kinshasa is an important step towards accessibility to health care for all Congolese women. Hopefully this measure can be extended to the entire country, in order to improve maternal health and guarantee the fundamental right to health for all women in the Democratic Republic of Congo.