- - -
Maguy agent de distrubution

Blog

Reaching the vulnerable through community-based distributors of contraceptives: experiences from the Democratic Republic of Congo

21-year-old Maguy is a student at the Institute of Medical Techniques in Kinshasa, studying nutrition. Every year, Maguy participates in internship programmes in health centers, where she enhances her...

21-year-old Maguy is a student at the Institute of Medical Techniques in Kinshasa, studying nutrition. Every year, Maguy participates in internship programmes in health centers, where she enhances her practical skills in her field of study.

Maguy’s passion for community-based health also sees her participate in sexual reproductive health awareness campaigns as part of the activities of IPPF’s Member Association in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Association pour le Bien-Etre Familial/Naissances Désirables (ABEF/ND).

"In one of the health centres, I worked with pregnant women where I would give them advice on healthy diet in pregnancy. While doing so, I noticed that there was an information gap on various issues, such as family planning. Young mothers would ask many questions about the advantages and disadvantages of contraceptives. They would also say how they wanted to space their births, but did not know exactly how to go about it. I decided to fill this information gap by increasing their knowledge on family planning issues, with the support of ABEF/ND,” she says.

ABEF/ND’s activities are part of the Women’s Integrated Sexual Health (WISH) programme which, under the strategy of ‘Leave No One Behind’, provides integrated and inclusive quality family planning and sexual and reproductive health services to marginalized and hard-to-reach populations, the poor, young people under 20 and people with disabilities.

Also read: Disability and Access to Sexual Reproductive Health Services in Mozambique

Since she started her community-based distribution work two years ago, Maguy has noted some successes in people’s behaviour, such as the increase in the number of people asking for condoms.  

“Both young and old are asking for condoms unlike before. They say they want to protect themselves and those they care for. I have also noted that many girls and young women are concerned about their future and have a great desire to protect themselves from negative sexual outcomes. This is encouraging, as it means that the information we have been passing on to them has been of help,” she says.

Maguy notes that the WISH project, which has helped increase people's knowledge on contraceptives and their use, has been well received by community members. Today, community health volunteers such as herself are easily recognized.

“At the beginning, people did not trust us. However, they have since understood and realized the benefit of our work and nowadays, whenever they meet us in the community or on our way home, they call out to us. We ended up making friends with them.”

Also read: Stories of Change: Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme (WISH)

For more updates on our work, follow IPPF Africa Region on FacebookTwitterInstagram and You Tube.

when

country

Congo, Dem. Rep.

region

Africa

Subject

Contraception

Related Member Association

Association pour le Bien-Etre Familial/Naissances Désirables