Kasaï-Oriental launches initiatives to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality

New initiatives have been launched in Mbuji-Mayi, Kasaï-Oriental, to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality through improved healthcare access and infrastructure.

The Fonds de Promotion de la Santé (FPS) has begun distributing essential medical equipment to health facilities participating in the free maternity care program. This equipment includes incubators, operating tables, surgical lamps, and manual aspirators, aimed at strengthening the technical capacity of local clinics.

Simultaneously, the ‘Bomoyi ya mama na muana’ project has been officially launched. This initiative is a collaborative effort between the National Council for Universal Health Coverage (CNCSU), the Vodacom Foundation, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The project will be piloted in Kasaï-Oriental, Kinshasa, and Kongo-Central.

Key components of the program include rehabilitating maternity wards, improving access to potable water, and providing continuous training for healthcare providers in emergency obstetric and neonatal care. The project also focuses on the digitalization of health management, sexual and reproductive health awareness, and the medical treatment of obstetric fistulas.