Networks of young people and civil society organizations implementing All In and adolescent HIV prevention programmes continued to scale up outreach and support services in 14 provinces while close to 5000 adolescents in Kasaï Central and Maniema provinces accessed sexual and reproductive health services and improved their awareness of HIV services, thanks to the Joint Programme’s support (UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat). Similarly, over 60 000 young people gained access to information on HIV, sexual and reproductive health and human rights through the Hello Ado, an interactive mobile app developed by the Joint Programme (UNESCO, UNFPA). Further strengthening comprehensive sexuality education, a girls’ education programme launched in Kasaï province built the capacity of 120 teachers towards integrating HIV, sexual and reproductive health, disability, gender and human rights aspects into the curriculum. In addition, 500 community leaders were empowered to act on these issues including gender-based violence in school settings (UNESCO).
As part of the adoption of the Dar-es-Salaam Declaration on Ending AIDS in Children in February 2023, DRC, together with 11 other African countries, joined the Global Alliance to end AIDS in children. The country also finalized its national Alliance action plan and a national acceleration plan for the elimination of vertical transmission of HIV (2023-2027) to fulfil this commitment, with strategic support from the Joint Programme for their development and dissemination across the country (UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat).
Significant advances were made towards creating an enabling environment for the HIV response. A newly adopted five-year national human rights plan and related provincial plans will contribute to addressing HIV-related stigma and discrimination in the country (UNDP, UNAIDS Secretariat). Nearly 100 people, including young people, women living with HIV, sex workers and transgender persons, increased their understanding of human rights laws in the country, especially laws related to HIV and stigma and discrimination, gender-based violence and disability (UN Women, UNAIDS Secretariat). About 1320 community and political leaders and legal experts also improved their knowledge of stigma, discrimination and human rights violations against people living with HIV and key populations through the Education Saves Lives campaign (UNESCO). In December 2022, the Government endorsed a law on the protection of and reparation for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and crimes against peace and the security of humanity following intensive advocacy by the Joint Programme, civil society and development partners (UNAIDS Secretariat).
Following a rapid assessment on HIV among internally displaced populations in 2022, the Joint Programme supported the scale up of community-led HIV prevention, testing, follow-up and referral services (UNFPA, UNAIDS Secretariat, UNOCHA). In Goma, Karisimbi and Rutshuru humanitarian sites, 7572 people benefitted from the newly implemented Minimum Emergency Package, which includes HIV and gender-based violence services (UNFPA). In Kasaï and Kasaï Central, 5882 refugees and people from host communities accessed HIV testing services and nearly 234 000 were sensitized on HIV prevention, thanks to the Joint Programme’s collaboration with networks of people living with HIV. Over 160 000 condoms were also distributed to these communities (UNHCR, UNAIDS Secretariat).
Two surveys on food and nutritional vulnerability in HIV context in Bukavu and Kalemie revealed high rates of food insecurity and malnutrition among people living with HIV, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and children aged 5 and 18 years (WFP, UNAIDS Secretariat). Over 6000 malnourished people living with HIV in 25 health facilities in Kananga and Mbujimayi received nutrition support, as well as 2538 survivors of sexual violence receiving care in Bukavu (WFP).
