INFRA+: Improving infrastructure and working conditions in North Kivu and Ituri

The INFRA+ project will improve the accessibility and quality of healthcare provided to the populations of North Kivu and Ituri provinces by strengthening healthcare infrastructure (construction of several new buildings, equipping them, setting up drinking water and energy supply systems, etc.).

Financial partner

The project is funded by the European Union (EU). It is part of the Program to Strengthen Healthcare Provision and Access (PRO-DS) funded by the EU under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF).

Background

The Strategic Plan for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) 2021–2030 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) focuses in particular on the construction and rehabilitation of health infrastructure, including water, electricity, and equipment, in order to deliver the quality services needed to develop UHC. This involves building new health centers and replacing all health centers that do not meet standards. It also involves building or renovating general referral hospitals (HGR) where necessary. The INFRA+ project was designed in response to this Plan.

The volatile environment in which INFRA+ operates (North Kivu and Ituri), coupled with widespread inflation due to the unstable international context, are key factors that have shaped the working method proposed by ULB-C° to carry out this project. Risk management will be a constant focus. This control has already proven its worth in previous projects carried out by Ucoopia (formerly ULB-Coopération) (PADISS and PADISS 2); it is based on various elements, including the active involvement of the local community in the different stages of project implementation and the use of local contractors (well established and able to adapt to the local context).

Location

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Direct beneficiaries

The 429 staff members of the renovated and/or newly built facilities
The 50,269 patients treated in hospitals each year by rehabilitated hospital facilities
The 7,254 women who give birth each year in rehabilitated hospital facilities
The population (30,727 people) with access to the four health centers benefiting from new drinking water supply points
The 18 members of the CADIMEBU team in Bunia

Actions

Build and equip essential and technical services at Masereka General Hospital (operating room, maternity ward, imaging, laboratory, intensive care, and emergency room)
Build and equip essential and technical services at Mambasa General Hospital (operating room, maternity ward, imaging, laboratory, intensive care, and emergency room)
Build and equip essential and technical services at Komanda General Hospital (operating rooms, maternity ward, imaging, laboratory, intensive care, and emergency room)
Build and equip essential and technical services at Kyondo General Hospital (imaging and laboratory)
Build and equip essential and technical services at HGR Nizi (technical block and hospital block)
Build essential and technical drug storage services for CADIMEBU (Bunia Essential Drug Supply and Distribution Center)
Building drinking water supply systems for the Masereka and Kyondo health centers (North Kivu) and the Mambasa, Komanda, and Nizi health centers (Ituri)
Building drinking water supply systems for health centers in Mangusu and Nduye (Ituri), and Ngiste and Vughalihya (North Kivu)
Strengthening solar energy systems in Masereka and Kyondo (North Kivu), Mambasa, Komanda, and Nizi (Ituri)

Situation in July 2023

Situation in December 2023

Situation in July 2024

Operational partners

Provincial Health Divisions (PHD North Kivu and Ituri)
The Steering Committees of the various hospitals (Masereka, Kyondo, Mambasa, Komanda, Nizi)
The Board of Directors of CDR CADIMEBU
Populations living near new developments
Health committees of health centers targeted for drinking water supply (Ngitse,
Vughalihya, Mangusu, and Nduye)