Annual Results Report: Emergency Assistance to Provide Lifesaving Health, Nutrition, and Protection/GBV Services for Vulnerable Communities of Tanganyika and South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo

The ongoing security concerns cause mass population displacement as people flee from the violence, which has become permanent in certain areas. International Medical Corps has provided emergency assistance centered on internally displaced persons, returnees, host communities, and other vulnerable populations, focusing on three pillars: Health, Nutrition, and Protection/GBV. The projects supported 27 health centers and four general referral hospitals in the targeted health zones. International Medical Corps facilitated access and utilization of nutrition and reproductive health services for internally displaced persons and vulnerable families affected by conflict in Manono, Ankoro, Kalemie, and Fizi. Across all project sites, the intervention supported 27 outpatient therapeutic program (OTP) sites at health facilities and three stabilization centers (SC) in hospitals. IMC supported the improvement in availability of pharmaceutical and nutrition commodities at supported facilities and conducted routine monitoring and supervision of health and nutrition activities to ensure quality case management. IMC's nutrition interventions provided 100,674 children and pregnant and lactating women with nutrition services, of which 8,062 were internally displaced persons. Under the protection component, IMC established and supported activities in nine women and girls safe spaces (WGSSs) and supported community-based organizations (CBOs) to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV). In response to prevent vulnerable populations from falling into severe acute malnutrition, International Medical Corps implemented the Blanket Supplementary Feeding Program (BSFP) and Targeted Supplementary Feeding Program (TSFP) in the health zones of Manono and Ankoro in Tanganyika Province. The lack of updated nutrition data in South Kivu Province did not allow for a rational analysis of the evolution of the nutrition situation among the population of Fizi, which is covered by the project. However, from November to December 2020, IMC intends to support the national nutrition program within the Ministry of Public Health (PRONANUT) to conduct a nutrition Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions (SMART)/Infant and Young Children Feeding (IYCF) survey to provide the province with updated data. International Medical Corps is a member of the health and nutrition clusters and GBV sub-cluster at the provincial and national levels and contributed to the development of the strategic plan for these sectors. IMC's good relationship with local health and nutrition authorities contributed to the improvement in the quality of support and supervision provided to health facilities. IMC also participates in the Humanitarian Coordination meetings led by OCHA and INSO and in various meetings, such as the weekly epidemiological surveillance meetings in the health zones and at the DPS levels. The nutrition interventions provided 100,674 children and pregnant and lactating women with nutrition services, of which 8,062 were internally displaced persons. The number of participants reached per month is as follows: July 19, August 19, September 19, October 19, November 19, December 19, January 20, February 20, March 20, April 20, May 20, June 20, and July 20. The total number of participants reached is 56,152 females and 44,522 males.