Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is expressing grave concerns over impending financial cuts, fearing a significant deterioration of the health situation in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This region has been grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis and persistent supply chain disruptions for years, severely impacting its already fragile healthcare system.

Stéphane Doyon, program manager for MSF France, elaborated on the reasons behind this apprehension, highlighting the potential consequences of reduced support from the Global Fund.

“Our primary worry is that if North Kivu is removed from the Global Fund’s project, the majority of treatments currently arriving at health centers – those not supplied by Médecins Sans Frontières but originating from the Global Fund – would simply cease to reach the population. MSF cannot realistically substitute for the Global Fund across an entire province, which would render the situation extremely critical,” Doyon explained.

Doyon further emphasized, “Malaria remains the leading cause of consultations at our health centers. Our absolute priority is to ensure the reintegration of malaria support for North Kivu, a province profoundly impacted and currently one of the most critical health zones. We are witnessing ongoing measles and cholera epidemics in North Kivu. The population has been severely traumatized by conflict and is in desperate need of sustained external assistance.”