In Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo, Marie Stopes International (MSI RDC) has organized a week-long awareness campaign and free family planning services for the Tshopo population. The campaign, which started on September 29, 2026, aims to educate people on different family planning methods and provide them with free services. According to Difride Wawina, MSI RDC's communication officer for the East region, the campaign is being conducted in collaboration with community relays and distributors who are sensitizing people on various methods.
The free family planning services are being offered in various health facilities in Kisangani, with the goal of helping couples space their births and have children by choice, not by chance. The services include distribution of contraceptives, counseling, and other reproductive health services. Wawina stated that the campaign is being conducted to mark the World Contraception Day and to make family planning services more accessible to the population.
On the first day of the campaign, over 500 people were sensitized at the community level, while 180 clients adopted family planning methods at health facilities. Bijoux Kavira, a family planning service provider trained by MSI RDC, said that the free services have attracted many people, especially women who cannot afford them. She added that the services are being provided to help couples save resources and promote the well-being of their children through planned births.
The family planning methods being offered include pills, injectable contraceptives, implants, and intrauterine devices (IUDs). Annie Mandela Koffi, another family planning service provider, said that beneficiaries are informed about the different options so that they can choose the method that suits them best. She added that the goal is to empower people to make informed choices about their reproductive health.
The campaign is being conducted in partnership with other health facilities in Kisangani, and more activities are planned for the week. These include sensitization sessions and free services for people with disabilities, particularly those with mobility impairments and albinism. There will also be a session on sexual and reproductive health for school-going girls and those who want to benefit from family planning services.
According to the National Reproductive Health Program (PNSR) for Tshopo province, 13% of maternal deaths are linked to clandestine abortions. The free family planning services aim to reduce maternal and infant mortality by promoting planned births and providing access to reproductive health services.
The campaign is expected to make a positive impact on the reproductive health of the population in Kisangani. By providing free family planning services, MSI RDC aims to promote the well-being of couples and their children, and to contribute to the reduction of maternal and infant mortality in the region.
Key points
- Free family planning services are being offered in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Over 500 people were sensitized on family planning methods on the first day of the campaign.
- The campaign aims to promote planned births and reduce maternal and infant mortality in the region.
