Health program: towards person-centered care in the DRC

In the DRC, with funding from Belgian cooperation (DGD), the Uni4Coop consortium (specifically Ucoopia (formerly ULB-Coopération) and Louvain Coopération) is continuing the collaboration between the various actors in the Congolese health systems, which began during the 2017-2021 program.

The health program aims to strengthen collaboration between authorities, providers, and populations to establish a more resilient, person-centered healthcare system that best meets the needs of all, through new concepts such as the patient-partner approach and the triple perspective approach.

Financial partner

Background

In the DRC, healthcare provision is fragmented, particularly in urban areas where private for-profit providers proliferate, and is largely inaccessible to disadvantaged social groups. The healthcare system focuses on infectious diseases at the expense of non-communicable diseases. Furthermore, it does not meet the criteria required for the establishment of a genuine universal healthcare system.

Faced with this situation, actions to strengthen the health system are multiplying but too often lack coordination between the different categories of actors, which limits their impact.

Location

The projects are concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the city province of Kinshasa and in the province of North Kivu.

Objectives

Through multi-stakeholder approaches involving authorities, service providers, communities, and research centers, we are implementing innovative measures to strengthen consistency and collaboration between the various components of the health system. These actions improve the continuity, coordination, and comprehensiveness of the system within the supported provinces. They lead to a person-centered healthcare system and contribute to improving the bio-psycho-social well-being of populations.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Expected impacts

The program aims to achieve a sustainable improvement in the quality, accessibility, continuity, and inclusiveness of essential healthcare services provided to populations, including the most vulnerable, in the areas receiving support (the provinces of Kinshasa and North Kivu for Ucoopia (formerly ULB-Coopération) and South Kivu for Louvain Coopération). Thanks to the collaboration of the authorities and the sharing of best practices by beneficiaries, the program aims to extend beyond the supported areas and meet the requirements necessary for the implementation of universal health coverage (UHC).

Expected results

Health authorities adapt their approaches and tools to the contexts in which they operate, aiming to improve the quality of care and focus on the individual.
Medical, psychological, and social teams have acquired skills, strengthened their motivation, and improved their working environment to provide essential, high-quality, person-centered health services.
The community is structured, strengthened, and aware of its health rights. It takes an active role in its own health and is involved, to varying degrees, in defining local healthcare provision and its implementation.
Consultation frameworks enable collaboration and exchange around the production of new knowledge, particularly through (action) research processes, and its dissemination to the various stakeholders.

Operational partners

Southern Star (EDS non-profit organization)
Free University of the Great Lakes Region (ULPGL)
Central Office of the Kitambo Health Zone (BCZ Kitambo)
North Kivu Provincial Health Division (DPS NK)
North Kivu Provincial Hospital (HPNK)
North Kivu Continuing Education Center (CFNK)
Beni-UNICHIR Surgical Unit (UniChir)
Beni Surgery (BENISUR)
Provincial Health Division in Kinshasa (DPS Kin)
Actors in the Goma and Karismbi health zones: Goma Health Zone Central Office (BCZ-Goma); Karisimbi Health Zone Central Office (BCZ-Karisimbi); Kyeshero Urban Medical Health Center (CSMU–Kyeshero); Rapha-Karisimbi Urban Medical Health Center (CSMU–Rapha).