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Abortion access in the DRC: another milestone reached

Abortion access in the DRC: another milestone reached

by | May 23, 2022 | Institutional News

Ipas Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) recently helped develop a training curriculum and set of health system tools for comprehensive abortion care (CAC) in a vital step toward implementing the Maputo Protocol. These tools will enable access to legal and safe abortion care for women across the country by aligning the health system with standards and guidelines recently approved by the Ministry of Health that remove barriers of marital and parental consent and proof of rape.

“These new tools are a vital part of the DRC government’s efforts to promote reproductive justice as a critical component of women’s empowerment,” said Dr. Jean-Claude Mulunda, Director of Ipas Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Ipas DRC will support expansion of these tools, as well as assist with follow-up and clinical mentoring of trained providers to ensure quality abortion care is available, accessible and affordable.

“The ratification of the Maputo Protocol has created a significant need to update our policies and management tools,” said Dr. Ilunga Bodi, the secretary general of health, at an endorsement ceremony for the tools and curriculum. “The step taken today will help strengthen the health system, facilitate the integration of CAC into the health system at all levels and permit us to finally fill the gap caused by the lack of credible abortion data.”

Dr. Anne-Marie Tumba, director of the Programme National de la Sante Reproductive (PNSR), said, “These tools will contribute towards the provision of holistic quality care to women and girls who desperately need them and will also reduce maternal mortality caused by unsafe abortions. It will allow the government to make decisions based on factual evidence.”

Social media campaign in DRC reaches youth with abortion information

Social media campaign in DRC reaches youth with abortion information

by | Nov 9, 2020 | Campaigns and Mobilization

Youth organizations across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) recently led an online campaign—“Abortion: Let’s Talk About It!”—to promote sexual and reproductive health and rights during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond.

“Young people are seeking reliable information about their sexual and reproductive health and need access to services during COVID-19,” says Dr. Jean-Claude Mulunda, country representative of Ipas DRC and one of the campaign coordinators. “There is an increase in the number of unwanted pregnancies, sexual violence and maternal deaths due to clandestine abortions, while access to services is more difficult. Reproductive health services, including abortion, must be part of essential health care.”

Using images with educational messages, the campaign was conducted on social networks and provided information on myths and misconceptions about sexual and reproductive health—especially abortion—and on human rights and the Maputo Protocol, an international treaty requiring signatory states such as the DRC to protect women’s reproductive rights by authorizing legal access to abortion.

Youth organizations across the country took part in the campaign, which used Twitter hashtags such as #ParlonsAvortements, #StopFakeNews and #MaputoMonAffaire. Organizations joining in the campaign included the Youth Action Movement, Afia Mama, Habari RDC, and the African Youth and Adolescents Network (AfriYAN).

“Access to health care is a right and not a favor that we grant to young people,” says Benjamin Sabue of the Youth Action Movement. “Young people in good health are the future of the country.”