Free maternity and newborn care are becoming a reality in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The President of the Republic Félix Tshisekedi recently called on the government to implement this measure as part of the implementation of universal health coverage. This initiative aims to ensure quality care for all pregnant women and newborns during their first month of life.
The Congolese government is thus putting in place a general basic care package for all Congolese, in order to allow access to basic health care throughout the national territory. With this in mind, a national medicine purchasing service will also be set up.
To ensure the availability of funds necessary for free childbirth, the Minister of State, Minister of the Budget, will ensure that these expenses are included in the State budget for the 2024 financial year.
This measure of free maternity and newborn care was officially launched on September 5 in Kinshasa and will be gradually extended to other provinces of the DRC.
This is a major step forward for maternal and child health in the DRC. By guaranteeing access to quality care for all pregnant women and newborns, the government is committed to reducing social disparities and improving the health of the Congolese population.
The implementation of universal health coverage is a priority for the Congolese government, which wishes to significantly improve access to basic health care. Free maternity and newborn care is a crucial step in achieving this objective.
This measure will particularly benefit the most socially disadvantaged pregnant women, who will now be able to access quality care throughout their pregnancy and after childbirth.
In short, the establishment of free maternity and newborn care in the DRC is a significant step forward in terms of access to health care. This measure will improve maternal and child health, and will help reduce social disparities in the country. The Congolese government is thus pursuing its vision of offering quality care to the entire population, by tackling the major issues of maternal and child health.