A public-private partnership involving stakeholders grouped into three components, namely public, community and private, as well as technical and financial partners in the fight against HIV/AIDS, was signed Thursday during a ceremony in Kolwezi, capital of the Lualaba province in the south-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
” Today’s signing is just the beginning, announcing that the government, international partners and the private sector in its diversity are truly involved and must allow us to move forward. This is also a call to others to tell them that we are open to improving this process and achieving the ultimate goal of obtaining full coverage, especially financially, of activities to combat HIV/AIDS ,” said Dr. Jack Kwete Boshiabo, provincial executive secretary of the National Multi-Sectoral AIDS Control Program (PNMLS).
He took the opportunity to commend the efforts of Lualaba Governor Fifi Masuka Saini in supporting the PNMLS in her jurisdiction. He also thanked the provincial authority for providing a working office for the PNMLS in Lualaba province.
For his part, Dr. Aimé Mboyo, Director of the National AIDS Control Program (PNLS), congratulated the Executive Secretary of PNMLS/Lualaba and all stakeholders for signing the reference notes for this public-private partnership, while specifying that this process is with a view to ending AIDS by 2030.
Dr. Aimé Mboyo said that external funding, which has always been there since 1983 to date, is decreasing, before stressing the need for urgent organization to manage the response to HIV/AIDS in the DR Congo.
He made several recommendations, including the organization of a ceremony to popularize this public-private partnership in professional circles by the provincial ministry in charge of labor on April 28, World Day for Safety and Health at Work.
With this in mind, the PNLS director announced an increase in the central government’s financial contribution to support the fight against AIDS. This is part of the work to build financial resilience and prioritize interventions, including the Lualaba province, initiated by the government of the Republic through the Minister of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare, Dr. Samuel Roger Kamba. ” We at the national level will continue to closely monitor what is being done here in Lualaba, but also to support and sustain these efforts ,” he reassured.
A document of the reference notes of this public-private partnership was submitted to all stakeholders, particularly the private sector whose fight against HIV/AIDS must materialize through the development of prevention actions and medical care for their staff.
Long before, the Public-Private Partnership Manager of the NGO ” Kheth’impilo ” explained these public-private partnership reference notes produced with the support of USAID to fight against HIV AIDS in the province of Lualaba.
It should be noted that representatives of the State, the private sector, notably the Federation of Congolese Enterprises (FEC), mining companies, and brewing companies took part in this ceremony.