DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
About the project
This project, run by Local Initiative for Integrated Development (Initiative Locale pour le Développement Intégré, ILDI) aims to mobilise a group of members of parliament towards achieving the fourth Millennium Development Goal: the reduction child mortality, in this case caused by malaria. As such, the project is the first of its kind in the DRC.
About the organisation
Created in 1999 during the period of armed conflict in the DRC, ILDI is a non-profit organisation focussed on socio-economic development. It aims to promote wellbeing of the whole population through a broad range of projects in the areas of sustainable agriculture, education, environment, men and women's rights, good governance and health (HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis). Recently, their advocacy efforts focussed successfully on the disposal of unexploded devices in the Djolu area in the aftermath of the armed conflict.
Background to the project
Malaria is one of the principal causes of death in the DRC and every single person in the country is exposed to its risk. Malaria is responsible for 47.3% of all deaths in children under five; a child under five can expect to suffer on average 6-10 episodes of malaria in one year. It is also a key factor in HIV/AIDS transmission through infected blood transfusion. Malaria is not simply a medical problem: it has profoundly negative socio-economic impacts. It is responsible for high absenteeism in schools (49 days out of 225 in any given school year) and the workplace (on average 10 days). The cost of each episode of malaria in children to the economy is $95. Malaria in the DRC is therefore a key cause of poverty.
Aims of the project
Through a number of different activities, this project aims to:
- Reinforce the capacity of the members of Parliament's socio-cultural commission in both advocacy and the use of the budget allocated by the state to the fight against malaria
- Develop a partnership between members of parliament, civil society and community leaders to mobilise resources in the fight against malaria
- Mobilise a group of members of parliament in advocacy on malaria and keep them informed on the situation with malaria throughout the country
