Discussion on UHC for vulnerable populations in DRC

A workshop on how vulnerable populations can be included in the strategy to achieve Universal Health Care (UHC), was organised in Kinshasa 25–26 November. The workshop was organised by Kinshasa School of Public Health in collaboration with the NGO Femmeplus, the Ministry of Health’s Department of Planning, Universal Health Care (UHC) experts, multisectoral program of HIV control (PNMLS) and 50 Civil Society Organizations leaders working with vulnerable population within the framwork of the project Building Capacity for Sustainable Development in Fragile States (SDGCap).

One of the project’s outcome aim is that CSOs contribute towards the attainment of the 2030 Agenda being better positioned to effectively promote and advocate for responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.

Universal Health Coverage is not only part of DR Congos’s President program, but a global commitment, an obligation for each country to reach by 2030 (Sustainable Development Goal 3, target 3.8). This workshop intended to sensitize CSOs working with vulnerable populations (HIV+, sex workers, MSM and more) and discuss challenges and opportunities for vulnerable populations to not be put aside of this strategy.  As a result of the workshop a memo will be drafted and submitted to the DRC’s national council of UHC (CN-CSU).

The workshop took place 25-26 November in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Dr Branly Mbunga SDGCap Project Lead Team, Mme Therese Kabalo Femmeplus NGO Coordinator, Dr Alain Iyeti, Director of the Ministry of Health’s Department of planning, Dr Molo, an Universal Health Coverage expert, Dr Rams Mpale, Expert at the Multisectoral Program of HIV control (PNMLS).