Expert Workshop Enhances Vaccination Program Funding Procedures in the DRC
In a bid to strengthen the financial processes for vaccination programs, an expert workshop was held in Kinshasa from February 12 to 14. The workshop, organized by the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in collaboration with the WHO, Gavi, and UNICEF, aimed to bolster the expertise of program experts on budgetary procedures to ensure the continuity of vaccination campaigns in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Didier Mbaya Nlandi, the head of the administrative and financial division of the EPI, emphasized the importance of the workshop, stating, “This workshop aims to enhance the skills of our agents in financing health activities. It also aims to evaluate the program’s performance: what has worked and what has not. The latest vaccination coverage results are not satisfactory: we have fallen to 38%, which means that 62% of children have not been vaccinated. However, these diseases are communicable, and each unvaccinated child poses a risk to the country.”
Following the workshop, participants committed to meeting deadlines for submitting financial justifications to authorities and partners, identifying reliable banking institutions and fiduciary agencies, and analyzing financial management data and equipment dedicated to vaccination campaigns.
The Decline in Vaccination Rates and Contributing Factors
It is crucial to note that the percentage of fully vaccinated children in the DRC increased from 35% in 2017 to 50% in 2020, before dropping to 38.6% in 2023. Several factors explain this decline, including the prolonged strike of healthcare personnel in 2021, vaccine stockouts, inadequate organization of vaccination sessions, dysfunctional coordination bodies, as well as low demand due to rumors and demotivation of staff.
Furthermore, the number of unvaccinated (“zero dose”) and under-vaccinated children rose from 780,000 and 1.5 million in 2021 to 1.03 million and 1.96 million in 2023, according to the Vaccination Coverage Survey (VCS).
Closing Thoughts
The workshop on fund disbursement procedures for vaccination programs in the DRC served as a pivotal moment in addressing the challenges hindering vaccination coverage in the country. By equipping experts with enhanced financial skills and strategies, the aim is to reverse the downward trend in vaccination rates and ensure that every child receives the necessary immunizations to protect against preventable diseases. As the participants implement the knowledge gained from the workshop, there is hope for a brighter and healthier future for the children of the Democratic Republic of Congo.