Programmatic Quarterly Report: Advancing Social Marketing for Health in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The project aims to improve the health status of the Congolese people by increasing 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. The project has four main objectives: to increase the supply and diversity of health products and services, to increase awareness of and demand for health products and services, to develop and/or enhance the ability of commercial/private sector entities to socially market health products and services, and to integrate service delivery and other activities at national, provincial, district, facility, and community levels. During the reporting period, the project achieved several key successes. A total of 11,094,091 male condoms and 362,131 female condoms were distributed in targeted health zones under the AIDSTAR project. Additionally, 309,303 Combination-3 oral contraceptives, 56,839 injectables, 264 IUDs, 873 CycleBeads, and 647 Jadelle implants were distributed to women of reproductive age in project-targeted health zones. The project also generated 40,249 CYPs through the distribution of FP products over the quarter. The project collaborated with wholesalers and distributors to reach distribution indicators and strengthen partnerships with the private sector. The rural strategy was successfully implemented in several provinces, including Kasaï Oriental, Katanga, and Province Orientale. The number of commercial bikers recruited increased to over 3,000, and all received their identifying kits. The project also distributed male and female condoms through pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical wholesalers as well as sales outlets. The sales force enhanced the visibility of sales outlets and backed the distribution of condoms. The project also socially marketed FP Confiance products, including COC, DMPA, IUD, CycleBeads, and Implants, in the private sector through pharmaceutical wholesalers, FP partner clinics, and pharmacies. In addition, the project distributed Aquatabs tablets to project-targeted provinces to supply the distribution network comprising the private sector and other partners. The PUR water purification tablets were also dispatched to project-targeted provinces to supply the distribution network. The project's inventory on hand at the end of September 2013 included 16,638,888 male Prudence condoms and 43,926 female Prudence condoms. The project's distribution of male and female condoms by province during Q4 FY13 is as follows: Kinshasa had 3,140,424 male Prudence condoms and 116,216 female Prudence condoms in stock; Katanga had 2,067,789 male Prudence condoms and 77,400 female Prudence condoms in stock; Bas-Congo had 345,600 male Prudence condoms and 1,200 female Prudence condoms in stock; Sud-Kivu/Nord-Kivu had 466,035 male Prudence condoms and 20,515 female Prudence condoms in stock; Province Orientale had 749,923 male Prudence condoms and 49,600 female Prudence condoms in stock; and Kasaï Oriental/Kasaï Occidental had 4,324,320 male Prudence condoms and 97,200 female Prudence condoms in stock. The project's distribution of FP products by province during Q4 FY13 is as follows: Kinshasa had 156,363 Combination-3 oral contraceptives, 23,436 injectables, 181 IUDs, 325 CycleBeads, and 150 Jadelle implants distributed; Katanga had 18,390 Combination-3 oral contraceptives, 10,598 injectables, 0 IUDs, 236 CycleBeads, and 30 Jadelle implants distributed; Bas-Congo had 4,245 Combination-3 oral contraceptives, 2,890 injectables, 0 IUDs, 39 CycleBeads, and 12 Jadelle implants distributed; Sud-Kivu/Nord-Kivu had 18,000 Combination-3 oral contraceptives, 3,028 injectables, 0 IUDs, 148 CycleBeads, and 69 Jadelle implants distributed; Kasaï Oriental/Kasaï Occidental had 102,600 Combination-3 oral contraceptives, 7,802 injectables, 0 IUDs, 0 CycleBeads, and 124 Jadelle implants distributed; and Province Orientale had 9,705 Combination-3 oral contraceptives, 9,085 injectables, 83 IUDs, 125 CycleBeads, and 262 Jadelle implants distributed. The project's distribution of Aquatabs tablets and PUR water purification tablets by province during Q4 FY13 is as follows: Kinshasa had 239