This site uses cookies to collect activity data and personalize content. By continuing to navigate this site, you agree to allow us to collect information using cookies. Learn more about how we care for your data in our privacy notice.
Supporting the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s health system transformation
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is dedicated to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and improving health outcomes for all its people. PATH has worked with the DRC for decades, strengthening health systems and supporting its digital health transformation.
Preparing for epidemics
PATH has supported epidemic outbreak preparation and response in the DRC for seven years. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, PATH worked with Resolve to Save Lives to provide direct, rapid support. PATH worked with the DRC’s COVID-19 Technical Secretariat to digitize data collection and analysis with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. PATH is also advising the COVID-19 Presidential Task Force.
Country-led transformation
PATH advocates for a digital health–transformation agenda in the DRC. Working with the DRC’s national agency for clinical engineering and digital health (ANICNS) and the president’s UHC team, PATH is supporting the national strategic planning process for the digital transformation, with support from the US Agency for International Development’s Digital Square project.
PATH has managed the flagship program of the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in the DRC since 2010. Its current iteration, the Integrated HIV/AIDS Program in Haut-Katanga, provides comprehensive HIV/AIDS services to 43,000 patients, 93 percent of whom now have an undetectable viral load—approaching the 95 percent global standard set by PEPFAR. PATH is continuing to leverage a suite of innovative approaches to identify and treat more patients and improve the services and quality of life for people living with HIV.
As a strategic partner of the DRC’s Ministry of Health, PATH is supporting the development of robust, interoperable digital health systems. This includes establishing policy and governance frameworks to protect people’s rights, while enabling data sharing to meet public health objectives, improve service delivery, and increase health worker capacity. These efforts will form the foundation for UHC—one of President Félix Tshisekedi’s key priorities.
The DRC has the second highest malaria burden in the world. PATH has been working with the National Malaria Control Program in the DRC since 2007. Our current projects focus on strengthening the availability and use of high-quality data to determine the most appropriate interventions and drive effective decision-making. We are also leveraging the National Emergency Operations Center, using it as a platform for data integration and visualization for malaria surveillance.
From measles outbreak response and yellow fever vaccination campaigns to routine immunization programs and COVID-19 vaccine introduction, PATH is leveraging decades of expertise to expand access to lifesaving vaccinations in the DRC. To ensure sustainable programs and strong systems, PATH is an advocate for vaccine policy, working closely with parliament, advising on budget allocations, and supporting the president’s National Forum on Immunization and Polio Eradication.
PATH helped establish the first national emergency operations center in the DRC, with funding from the US Centers for Disease Control, from which we worked to strengthen timely data and analytics to bolster disease surveillance-and-response efforts to multiple Ebola outbreaks. PATH continues to provide support to the DRC’s Ministry of Health on epidemic response, digitization, and outbreak surveillance.
Oxygen is an essential commodity, but its complex production and delivery systems make it difficult to ensure sustainable supplies, especially in settings without stable electricity, trained specialists, and physical access to generation plants. PATH worked with the DRC’s Ministry of Health to assess and quantify their oxygen needs, and then procure oxygen equipment and train health care workers. These efforts are part of a larger initiative to strengthen health systems across the country.
Our office
Our office is located in the Immeuble Matrix, Kinshasha.
Matrix Tower Building
119 Ave Blvd du 30 Juin, 5th Niveau
Gombe/Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of Congo
Trad Hatton, MA, MHS
Country Director, The Democratic Republic of the Congo
Abdoulaye Mballo
Director of Finance and Administration
Edna Harimenshi
Director of Programs
Jean-Claude Kiluba
Chief of Party/IHAP
Job Diarra
Deputy Chief of Party, Finance/IHAP
Pascal Kibwa
Deputy Chief of Party
Jeanne-Marie Mundela
Senior Project Administrator
Dr. Salva Mulongo
Technical Coordinator