**DRC HIV Impact Assessment Project – CODPHIA**
The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has just launched an ambitious project to assess the impact of HIV on the Congolese population, called CODPHIA. This initiative led by the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare aims to assess the country’s progress in terms of HIV prevention, care and treatment in the provinces of Kinshasa, Haut-Katanga and Lualaba.
At the heart of this vast survey is the proposal for voluntary screening in 12,000 randomly selected households, for a total of 30,000 individuals aged 15 and over, including pregnant women and people living with HIV/AIDS. An essential step to better understand the reality of the epidemiological situation of the virus within the Congolese population.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, with an HIV prevalence of 1.2% in its general population, is facing a major public health challenge. Indeed, the country’s borders are shared with nations where HIV prevalence sometimes reaches rates exceeding 10%. Thus, HIV infection remains a crucial issue for public health in the DRC.
During the launch of this project, Dieudonné Mwamba, Director General of the INPS, welcomed the holding of this large-scale survey. He stressed the importance of this approach to assess the real impact of HIV in the Congolese population and guide public health policies accordingly.
For her part, Susan Tuller, Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy, reaffirmed the commitment of the United States to support the DRC in strengthening its data systems and laboratory infrastructure, as well as in training local health experts.
As part of this project, investigators will be deployed to households starting October 24 for a period of six weeks. Their mission will be to collect the data and blood samples needed for this full-scale assessment of the impact of HIV in the DRC.
According to recent statistics from the National AIDS Control Program (PNLS), the DRC has more than 500,000 people infected with HIV, the majority of whom are women. This is a worrying figure that underlines the importance of efforts made for HIV prevention and treatment in the country. Fortunately, 98% of people living with HIV/AIDS in the DRC are currently on treatment, which is encouraging.
The CODPHIA project is being carried out in collaboration with technical assistance from ICAP of Columbia University and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Funding for this initiative is provided by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), to the tune of 22 million US dollars..
In conclusion, the CODPHIA project represents a crucial step in the fight against HIV in the DRC. This large-scale assessment will provide a better understanding of the reality of the epidemic in the country and strengthen prevention and treatment actions. A beneficial initiative for Congolese public health and a step closer to the eradication of HIV/AIDS in the DRC.