Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is sounding the alarm, urging the Global Fund to continue prioritizing North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo for crucial malaria support. With impending funding reductions, MSF expresses deep concern that the health situation in this already beleaguered region could deteriorate further. North Kivu has endured years of humanitarian crisis and persistent supply chain challenges, severely weakening its healthcare infrastructure.

Stéphane Doyon, program manager for MSF France, elucidated the reasons behind this urgent appeal.

“Our apprehension stems from the potential withdrawal of North Kivu from the Global Fund’s project. Should this occur, the majority of treatments currently received by health centers – those not supplied by Médecins Sans Frontières but originating from the Global Fund – would simply cease to arrive. MSF cannot realistically substitute for the Global Fund across an entire province. The ramifications for public health would be extremely severe,” Doyon explained.

Doyon further emphasized the critical role of malaria interventions: “Malaria remains the leading cause of consultations observed in our health centers. Our absolute priority is to ensure the reintegration of malaria support for North Kivu, which is profoundly impacted and currently represents one of the most critical health zones. In North Kivu, we are witnessing recurrent epidemics of measles and cholera. The population has been deeply scarred by conflict and is in dire need of sustained external assistance.”