National Malaria Strategic Plan (NMSP) of Democratic Republic of the Congo: 2016 – 2020

Note: A more recent NMSP is available. View it here (link). 

This Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Plan Stratégique National de Lutte contre le Paludisme (PSNLP) 2016–2020 (PSN 2016-2020) is aligned with national and international policy and strategy documents, such as: (i) the National Health Development Plan (PNDS) 2016–2020, for which it operationalizes malaria control efforts in support of the “service delivery” pillar; (ii) the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030; (iii) Action and Investment to Defeat Malaria 2016–2030; and (iv) the African Malaria Strategy (AMS).

Aim: With the aim of contributing to malaria elimination in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the NSP seeks to improve the population’s health status by reducing the human and socio-economic burden caused by malaria.

Objective: The overall objective of the 2016–2020 NSP is to reduce malaria-related morbidity and mortality rates by 40% compared to 2015 levels.

Strategic objectives:

• protect at least 80% of people at risk of malaria through preventive measures by 2020
• screen at least 80% of fever cases suspected of being malaria and treat 100% of those testing positive in accordance with national guidelines by 2020
• strengthen the surveillance, monitoring, and evaluation system by 2020
• ensure that at least 75% of the at-risk population is knowledgeable about malaria transmission, prevention, and case management by 2020
• strengthen program management by 2020.

Strategies and Activities:

• vector control, including the distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) through both campaigns and routine delivery, indoor residual spraying (IRS) with residual insecticides, and the promotion of sanitation
• protection of vulnerable groups (pregnant women and children under five) through preventive chemotherapy
• screening of fever cases suspected of being malaria and systematic treatment of all confirmed malaria cases in accordance with national guidelines
• strengthening epidemiological surveillance and monitoring and evaluation
• communication for behavior change
• strengthening program management.