Advancing Social Marketing for Health in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Programmatic Quarterly Report October – December 2011

The program is implemented by Population Services International (PSI) in partnership with the Association de Santé Familiale (ASF). The program's goal is to increase the use of effective health products, services, and behaviors in the areas of HIV/AIDS/STI, family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH), maternal and child health (MCH), and water and sanitation. During the first quarter of fiscal year 2012, the program achieved several key successes. A total of 2,672,861 male condoms and 156,987 female condoms were distributed in targeted health zones under the AIDSTAR project. Additionally, 163,500 Combination-3 pills, 31,874 injectables, 631 IUDs, 88 Cycle Beads, and 552 Jadelle were distributed to women of reproductive age in project-targeted health zones. The program also generated 23,185 CYPs (client-years of protection) through the distribution of FP products, and 2,093 Clean Delivery Kits were distributed. The distribution network for health products has started to operate in the FMCG distribution system, with a commercial wholesaler operating in each of the provinces of Bandundu, Kasaï Occidental, Kasaï Oriental, and Sud-Kivu. The sales team plans to expand this network to other provinces in the coming quarters. PSI/ASF has also revitalized its contraceptives distribution network by working with current pharmaceutical wholesalers responsible for replenishing the retail pharmacies' stock. The distribution of Prudence male and female condoms reveals a large decrease compared to the quantities distributed during the last quarter of FY11. The decrease is attributed to a small quantity of stock available at the end of FY11 in provinces and socio-political instability during the last quarter of FY11, which made it difficult to access intervention areas. The program has also made progress in family planning, with the distribution of combined pills starting in December 2011 after securing the overbranding authorization. However, the registration of Microlut (35-tablet blister pack) is still being processed, resulting in a progestin-only pills stock out. The program's geographic focus is on the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a particular emphasis on the provinces of Kinshasa, Katanga, Bas-Congo, Sud-Kivu, Nord Kivu, Kasaï Occidental, Kasaï Oriental, Equateur, and Province Orientale. The program's timeframes are quarterly, with the first quarter of fiscal year 2012 covering October to December 2011.