Partnership to Fight HIV/AIDS in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

PEPFAR supports a broad range of services in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), including prevention, care and support, treatment, orphans and vulnerable children, human resources for health, and health systems strengthening. Given the epidemiology of HIV in DRC, prevention activities are appropriately focused on prevention of sexual transmission, as well as prevention of mother-to-child transmission. In addition, there is

ongoing support for counseling and testing services, with plans to scale up voluntary as well as provider-initiated services. Efforts are underway with the military to train master trainers and peer educators to provide HIV/AIDS prevention education and behavior change communication, and to provide equipment and training for voluntary counseling and testing centers, including strengthening HIV laboratory diagnostic capacity to increase testing of military personnel. In addition, PEPFAR is providing support to programs and community groups that promote key prevention and testing messages, and supporting the development of a radio and television serial drama focused on the social issues around HIV prevention and testing. In the area of care and support, PEPFAR supports basic care and support services, as well as programs for TB/HIV and for orphans and vulnerable children. In particular, PEPFAR is providing technical assistance to support family-centered HIV services, with support for those infected and affected by HIV. PEPFAR is also supporting the development of a uniform monitoring and evaluation system for all TB/HIV activities. In addition, PEPFAR is helping to strengthen and expand laboratory services in order to improve HIV care and treatment.