Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) joined the CQUIN learning network in September 2019.  DRC 2024 UNAIDS estimates that 610,000 [500,000-750,000] adults and children living with HIV, and an HIV prevalence of 0.7% in adults aged 15-49 [0.9% in women and 0.5% in men]. An estimated 77% of people know their HIV status and 71% of people who know their status are on treatment.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) joined the CQUIN learning network in September 2019. DRC’s Ministry of Health and the National AIDS Control Program are committed to advancing the implementation of differentiated service delivery (DSD) models and are energized at the prospect of presenting more diverse options to recipients of care.

In two provinces in DRC, three differentiated antiretroviral (ART) delivery models were introduced and offered to recipients of care:

• One facility-based group model: ART clubs provide refills via support groups managed by health care workers.
• One facility-based individual model: Fast-track ART refills.
• One community-based individual model: community-based points of ART distribution
• One community-based group model:  community ART groups.

Though progress has been made in increasing retention and reducing wait time for recipients of care at the community-level, challenges remain.