The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with one highest malaria incidence rates in the world, is a priority country for the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI). PMI has played a major role in the country’s fight against malaria, having dedicated $50m toward eliminating the disease in DRC over the last five years.
PMI Coordinator Rear Admiral Tim Ziemer visited DRC from August 5-8, 2015 to assess progress made in the country’s malaria initiatives. Rear Admiral Ziemer visited the Management Sciences for Health (MSH)/SIAPS office on August 6, 2015, and called a meeting with all USAID/PMI implementing partners to discuss the progress made and strategies for the fight against and the elimination of malaria in DRC. At the meeting, SIAPS, along with four other implementing programs, was given the opportunity to present on its anti-malaria interventions in DRC.
Following the presentations, Rear Admiral Ziemer visited the Mother and Child Health Center in Barumbu, a suburb of Kinshasa. The health center is located in one of 44 PMI-supported health zones, and receives assistance from SIAPS on malaria case management, especially for pregnant women and children under five. The center plays an important role in malaria control in the region as all antenatal care patients are required to be screened for malaria. Patients who test positive for the disease are treated free of charge in accordance with the national malaria guidelines, and malaria medicines are available in the pharmacy at all times. The center also organizes an information center for pregnant women every Thursday, during which issues pertaining to malaria—such as prevention and the use of treated mosquito nets—are explained.
During his visit, Rear Admiral Ziemer praised the efforts of SIAPS and other PMI-supported anti-malaria programs in the DRC, and expressed his satisfaction with the health center visit and the meeting at the MSH/SIAPS office.
