A new project being implemented by DNDi in partnership with PNLS, the national AIDS programme of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), is bringing new hope to people living with advanced HIV disease (AHD) in Kinshasa, DRC. Forming part of the Improved Access to AHD Care and Treatment for HIV (IMPAACT4HIV) consortium led by the Aurum Institute and funded by UNTAID, the project is strengthening local health system capacity to screen, diagnose, and treat opportunistic infections – significantly reducing travel and wait times at referral centers and improving access to timely diagnosis and treatment.
Between 29 April and 5 June 2025, over 70 healthcare workers and members of civil society organizations in Kinshasa, DRC, took part in capacity-strengthening sessions conducted by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The theoretical and practical training aimed to strengthen the ability of healthcare providers, especially in primary healthcare facilities, to manage AHD and improve access to care for people living with HIV. Civil society representatives, including communities of people living with HIV, were also involved to ensure their needs and perspectives were reflected throughout the process.
Despite progress in antiretroviral therapy, AHD continues to cause preventable deaths. In 2023 alone, around 11,000 out of an estimated 520,000 people living with HIV in the DRC lost their lives to AIDS-related illnesses.
‘It is a great tragedy that in 2025, people are still dying from AIDS-related opportunistic infections when we already have the tools to treat them,’ said Chirac Bulanga, Director of the DNDi DRC Regional Office. ‘By bringing life-saving medicines directly into local clinics, rather than only at referral hospitals miles away, we can prevent more AIDS deaths, especially in the face of funding cuts that risk treatment interruptions and more cases of AHD.’
The healthcare professionals trained gained practical skills to identify AHD cases effectively, while also enhancing their understanding of the connections between tuberculosis, anaemia, meningitis, and HIV. This knowledge is critical for delivering appropriate and timely care.
’This training is essential because it allows us to improve the quality of healthcare services and manage respiratory complications related to HIV more effectively,’ said Dr César Mantuala, Chief Medical Officer of Lemba.
‘What we’ve learned is already helping us recognize the signs of AHD and adjust our care accordingly,’ shares another participant, Anderson Mbuyi, HIV focal point at Maman Pamela Health Center, Kasavubu, highlighting the direct impact of the training.
The practical phase of the training took place from 21 May to 5 June 2025 at an MSF site, allowing healthcare providers to apply the tools and protocols discussed during the theoretical sessions.
Dr Rosalie Kandolo, a doctor at the Kasaï Referral Health Center in Barumbu, reflects on the tangible impact of the training:
‘We were already aware of the complications associated with HIV, but this training has allowed us to better understand how to respond practically. We learned how to make diagnoses faster using tests that we can perform on site, without waiting hours for laboratory results. This completely changes patient care. We now know how to navigate specific pathologies, especially respiratory ones, and make accurate differential diagnoses.’
Dr Don Nzeza, focal point of the DRC national AIDS control program (PNLS) in Kinshasa, sums up the importance of this initiative: ‘Every life saved is a victory for humanity. The IMPAACT4HIV project, a true catalyst and a remarkable demonstration of efficiency, opens a crucial path of hope. It ensures quick and effective care for patients with AHD, despite the major organizational challenges in our context.’
