The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the largest nation in Sub-Saharan Africa, is among the five poorest countries in the world. Despite possessing exceptional natural resources and the world's second-largest rainforest, the country faces significant hardships. In 2022, nearly 62% of its population, approximately 60 million people, lived on less than $2.15 a day. The DRC faces a multitude of challenges, including pervasive insecurity in the east, nationwide recurring natural disasters, and frequent infectious disease outbreaks. These crises result in significant displacement and exacerbate existing problems. Despite some health improvements, the country continues to grapple with substantial healthcare needs.
Vulnerability to infectious diseases, communities living in remote areas, poor infrastructures, and historical healthcare underinvestment limit access to quality and affordable healthcare, particularly in crisis-hit regions. Addressing these healthcare needs requires coordinated efforts involving numerous health partners, including international and national NGOs, UN agencies, and national health authorities. In these collaborations, information management services play a pivotal role in prioritizing healthcare needs and coordinating response efforts. Since 2019, iMMAP Inc. has played an essential role in supporting humanitarian projects addressing these challenges in DRC, particularly in the health sector.
Our contributions span from providing information system management for Ebola response strategies, collaborating on the Go.Data project for epidemic investigations, to generating monthly situation analysis reports on COVID-19's humanitarian impact in DRC. These efforts have not only deepened the understanding of DRC's humanitarian crisis but have also enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of response efforts.
iMMAP Inc's steadfast commitment is crucial in addressing these challenges by improving transparency, accountability, and the overall quality of humanitarian health responses in DRC. Their role is indispensable in ensuring that the necessary resources reach those in dire need.
