Despite recent de-escalation agreements, armed conflict persisted in North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) throughout July. Humanitarian access remains severely constrained, which is hindering the delivery of sexual and reproductive (SRH) services, limiting the operation of gender-based violence (GBV) safe spaces, and delaying the transport of lifesaving reproductive health kits and staff deployment.
Health zones in North Kivu province in eastern DRC report concerningly high incidences of rape, with adolescent girls representing over one-third of reported GBV cases. Stock-outs of post rape kits containing post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), emergency contraception and other essential medical supplies is hindering care, with survivors' needs remaining largely uncovered.
The end of the national free maternity care programme in North and South Kivu in the eastern region of DRC has further deepened inequities and left thousands of women facing unaffordable costs of skilled medical care, heightening risks of maternal and newborn deaths. In response, the Sexual and Reproductive Health Working Group, led by UNFPA, have validated a new accelerated maternal and neonatal death reduction plan for North Kivu to strengthen referral systems, increase capacity of healthcare workers, raise community awareness, and ensure availability of reproductive health supplies.
In July, UNFPA supported 42 health facilities across crisis-affected provinces in eastern DRC, and in collaboration with implementing partners, reached over 69,000 people with GBV prevention and response services, and 203,000 people with SRH services. UNFPA distributed 112 reproductive health kits to 10 health facilities to meet the needs of 150,000 people, and currently has 148 midwives and 430 community health workers deployed across 29 facilities, who supported 32,678 safe births, including 1,659 caesarean sections. However, tragically, nine maternal deaths and 40 neonatal deaths were reported during July, largely linked to referral delays and shortages of reproductive health supplies.
