Health Zone: Advocacy for Women’s Participation in Zonal Health Decision-Making in Kinshasa

Kinshasa, February 22^nd, 2026 (CPA) – The positioning of women within zonal health decision-making bodies, particularly within the Health Area Development Committees (CODESA), was the focus of an advocacy session conducted Saturday by the NGO *Mouvement d’Action des Jeunes* (MAJ) at the Masina 1 Health Zone, CPA learned Sunday from the organizers. “MAJ-DRC held an advocacy session on Saturday, February 21^st, 2026, with the Masina 1 Health Zone to promote the positioning of women in zonal health decision-making bodies, especially in the Health Area Development Committees (CODESA),” said Exaucée Sompila Nianda, Vice-President of the NGO * Youth Action Movement * (MAJ). According to the source, the session aimed to ensure the sustainable participation of women within CODESA by addressing obstacles to their involvement. It also served to raise awareness among health authorities about female leadership, with the goal of improving local health governance. “The session pursued several key objectives: contributing to the promotion of effective and sustainable participation of women in the zone’s CODESA; identifying barriers to this participation; sensitizing zonal health authorities on the importance of female leadership; and, finally, obtaining a formal commitment in favor of women’s positioning in local decision-making bodies,” she added. The meeting brought together the Chief Medical Officer of Masina 1, the representative of the National Malaria Control Program (PNLP), as well as representatives of local health authorities. The * Youth Action Movement * (MAJ) is a network of volunteers active in Francophone Africa, working on sexual health, community development, and peace initiatives. It conducts programs such as digital entrepreneurship training and community dialogues, often in partnership with international organizations.