Resources

Malaria is a major public health problem in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in DRC, with 27.3 million cases of malaria and 24,880 malaria deaths reported in 2022.An effective surveillance, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system that produces high quality data is essential for the monitoring of malaria trends, evaluation of the impact of malaria control interventions, and evidence-based decision-making. Problems with the quality of malaria data persist in the DRC, limiting the national malaria control program’s (NMCP) informed decision-making and ability to launch a timely response to identified priorities.To address this need, the DRC NMCP – with support from PATH MACEPA – has developed a decentralized routine data quality audit (RDQA) process that was piloted in four health zones in Haut-Katanga. An overview of the pilot, preliminary results, and next steps are summarized in this brief.

Microarray patch technology has the potential to foster untold gains in access, efficacy, and adherence for vaccines and essential medicines. PATH is working to accelerate the development of this innovative delivery technology platform to address critical public health needs. PATH is collaborating with microarray patch (MAP) developers, vaccine and drug manufacturers, and other global stakeholders to evaluate and advance a range of MAPs at varying stages of product development, with the aim of improving access and equity in the delivery of vaccines and essential medicines in resource constrained settings.

At PATH, design thinking is in our DNA. We believe that effective primary health care (PHC) must prioritize people, placing individuals, patients, and caregivers at the forefront of service design and delivery.Through collaboration with partners, PATH is committed to improving PHC nationwide. In Maharashtra's Satara district, PATH has joined forces with the government to pioneer a district-level approach to pilot a replicable model for PHC across the country.To strengthen PHC, we deploy purposeful innovations, integrate disease-specific programs, advance women’s health, incorporate climate-proofing initiatives, and adopt digital advancements to make health care more efficient and accessible.Not only are primary health care centres equipped with new devices and tools, but the PHC benefit package has also been expanded to include communicable and non-communicable diseases, anemia control, and lifesaving care for snakebite envenoming and dog bite.We have mobilized community platforms to foster a culture where health care becomes a collective endeavor. We also assist health centres in obtaining quality certification and improve their supply chain practices.

PATH helps policymakers and advocates in making evidence-based policy and funding decisions to advance health equity. Our work informs policies, mobilizes resources, strengthens advocacy capacity, engages citizens, and holds decision-makers accountable for their commitments.

This fact sheet, created by PATH in partnership with AUDA-NEPAD discusses how the African Medicines Agency helps to bring access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable medicines, medical products, and technologies to Africa.