Kinshasa, November 17th, 2025 (CPA) . –The population of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was made aware on Monday of the impact of prematurity during a conference in Kinshasa, the country’s capital, under the theme ‘Give every premature baby a chance to live.’
« Our overall goal is to promote the survival and well-being of premature babies. We are raising awareness in the community about the impact of prematurity, promoting good practices in care adapted to the local context, strengthening the capacities of health professionals, encouraging the commitment of partners and fostering collaboration between all stakeholders in neonatology, » said Dr Gerrye Mubungu, coordinator of the National Network of Neonatal Services in the DRC.
« Too many children are born too early and too fragile, and too few receive essential care. The fight against this mortality is based on three pillars: prevention, appropriate care, and awareness-raising among the community and decision-makers. In other words, it is not enough to wish premature babies good luck; we must act quickly, » he continued. For him, this activity, following the celebration of World Prematurity Day on November 17th, is an opportunity to mobilize society, strengthen the skills of service providers, engage partners and initiate structural projects for neonatology in the DRC.
‘At the end of these two days, we hope to see increased social and media mobilization, a concrete commitment from decision-makers, and better-equipped providers to save lives,’ she continued. According to Dr Mubungu, the two-day program combines science and compassion. The first day is devoted to social and community issues, with testimonials from families, follow-ups on former premature babies and speeches by officials, as well as an assessment of free maternity care, with a focus on prematurity.
‘The advent of UHC has raised immense hope. The removal of the financial barrier to access to care is a godsend, not only for premature babies and their families, but also for us, providers committed to maternal and child care, as well as for our institutions,’ he emphasized. The coordinator of the National Network of Neonatal Services in the DRC announced that the second day will be dedicated to scientific communications. « We also propose to launch the National Neonatal Society
and strengthen the professional network, » she announced. CPA/