Programmes (2004 – Present)

• Capacity Development
• Relief and Recovery
• Health Care
• HIV/AIDS
• SGBV
• Advocacy

Protection and Assistance

Continuing with our initial services, AHA provides lifesaving medical, SGBV and community aid services to thousands of Congolese returnees and local populations.  In doing so, we work predominantly in the municipalities of Batanga, Dongo, Monzombo and Lyonda/Mbandaka, Gemena, Libenge, Zongo, Mbandaka, Mawuya, Gbadolite, Badjala and Kungu.

Healthcare:

The provision of comprehensive and easily accessible healthcare remains a priority for AHA. As a result, we have constructed and rehabilitated a number of health centres in the Equateur Province. Each centre is fully equipped and provided with the necessary medical supplies and staff have been recruited from the local community and provided with ongoing training opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills.  The centres provide a wide range of health services, including the medical screening of returnees. In addition AHA co-ordinates a number of mobile health teams, providing access to essential health services for those in remote areas.

HIV/AIDS:

With an emphasis on prevention, AHA works hard to raise the awareness and sensitize communities on important health issues. Recent campaigns have involved working to mitigate the impact of common killers such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, and other communicable diseases.  In 2007, our HIV/AIDS sensitization programme, which targets the local populations as well as the returnees, had reached out to 30,000 people. We have distributed over 100,000 condoms and over 50,000 leaflets – the contents of which cover other important issues, such as malaria, nutrition, and cholera. As the sole implementing partner for the Great Lakes Initiative on AIDS (GLIA) programme, AHA reaches out to around 70,000 people on this critical issue through various educational, preventive, and responsive programmes.

Nutrition:

Complimentary to our efforts in healthcare is our work in nutrition, ensuring that returnees are supplied with essential food and non-food items and providing nutritional support to children at the Libenge Nutritional Centre.  The centre was built as a result of a previous area-wide survey performed by AHA, in partnership with the Congolese Government and FAO.  Activities promote the survival, protection, and development of child nutrition throughout the Province Equator.

SGBV:

Sexual and other forms of Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) can feature heavily in conflict and post-conflict settings, as well as in crisis-affected populations.  Therefore, AHA works closely in DR Congo with the NGO, Actions et Interventions pour le Développement et l’Encadrement Social, to reduce the incidence of SGBV and to ensure the wellbeing of survivors.  Activities include community awareness-raising, training workshops, subject based recreational activities, psycho-social care, and legal support for survivors.  Motivated individuals are recruited from within communities to work towards instigating long lasting change in people’s understanding and behaviours.

Capacity Development:

AHA’s programmes are designed to achieve sustainable solutions, building on the strengths of a community to realise self reliance and improved resilience.  In DR Congo we work to do just this, providing affected populations with the necessary support, equipment, training, and mechanisms, to function independently.  Thus, AHA typically stays only 6 months to 1 year in a municipality, ensuring that improved health services are fully integrated into a community’s infrastructure.  Our success is evident upon our departure, when we are able to re-direct our support to other areas in need.

For more information about AHA DRC, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it