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Democratic Republic of Congo
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Joint Team supported the Government’s efforts to expand HIV services and protection for people living with HIV, vulnerable and key populations despite the humanitarian situation in several regions. The country developed a new National HIV Strategy, joined the Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children and finalized a national acceleration plan for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (2023-2027) to fulfil this commitment (UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat). During the Third National HIV Conference, political leaders and development partners held discussions on current research, progress, gaps and strategic opportunities in the HIV response, and the Joint Team supported negotiation of the Kolwezi Declaration on Paediatric HIV and EMTCT in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to accelerate decentralization of the Global Paediatric HIV Alliance goals.
The All In and adolescent HIV prevention programmes were implemented in 14 provinces in partnership with youth networks and civil society and 4941 adolescents in Central Kasai and Maniema improved their knowledge of HIV prevention and sexual and reproductive health services (UNFPA, WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat). More than 211 746 people, including internally displaced persons, refugees and people from host communities improved their knowledge of HIV prevention, testing, treatment and sexual and reproductive health services via community sensitization sessions (UNHCR) and received nutritional support to ensure their overall wellbeing and health outcomes (WFP).
The national sexually transmitted infections (STIs) treatment guidelines were revised to ensure equitable and human-centred service provision (WHO). In Kalemie and Kinshasa, 368 female sex workers, men who have sex with men, and transgender people accessed STI treatment services in three client-friendly health centres. In Bukavu, Kalemie, Kikwit and Kinshasa, 19 000 people from key populations, including female sex workers and fishermen were tested for HIV (UNDP).
Under the Global Fund Breaking Down Barriers initiative, the Democratic Republic of the Congo adopted a five-year plan to implement and scale up programmes that remove human rights-related barriers to HIV, tuberculosis and malaria services (UNAIDS Secretariat). A total of 1320 community and political leaders and legal experts improved their knowledge of stigma, discrimination and human right violations against people living with HIV and key populations through the Education Saves Lives campaign. In addition, a girls’ education programme was launched in Kasai province and 120 teachers were trained on integrating HIV, sexual and reproductive health, disability, gender and human rights aspects into the curriculum (UNESCO).