Child survival
Every woman, newborn, child, and adolescent should have an equal chance to survive and thrive.
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Challenge
Despite a significant progress, too many children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) die before the age of five due to preventable or treatable diseases such as neonatal complications, pneumonia, malaria and diarrhea. Besides the fragmented health systems, major bottlenecks of health service delivery are frequent stock-outs of essential commodities, numerous but inadequately trained and paid medical staffs, poor quality of health care and limited financial access.
In the country, nearly one out of every two children under five suffers from chronic malnutrition or stunted growth, which affects their brain development, reduces their IQ, and weakens their immune system. In 2017, food security and nutrition levels sharply deteriorate and the nutritional status of children has weakened. One in ten children is severely malnourished and in danger of death.
Solution
Healthy children become healthy adults, improving their living conditions, as well as those of their communities and their country.
Health
Child survival programme aims at reducing maternal, newborn and child mortalities by improving the delivery and newborn care and fighting preventable diseases that are accountable for child deaths. UNICEF is working with partners to vaccinate children against the six major diseases against which there is a vaccine.
The programme also contributes to global initiatives, including the eradication of poliomyelitis, the elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus, control of measles, the elimination of new HIV infections through the mother-to-child transmission and the All-in ! to end adolescent Aids initiative.
Nutrition
During the first 1,000 days of childhood, from the time of pregnancy on the second birthday of the young child, children should benefit from direct nutrition interventions in terms of adequate food intake, good care, health, nutrition and hygiene.
UNICEF supports the provision of nutrition services in pre-school consultations, the organization and revitalization of the community around nutrition activities, the organization of child health and nutrition days, and the provision of services for case management of severe acute malnutrition in health centers.
For every child, health
UNICEF has helped reduce child mortality in the Democratic Republic of Congo by working to reach the most vulnerable children, everywhere.