Political engagement: a key pillar in revitalisation of polio and routine immunisation programmes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Immunisation is a high priority for improving health outcomes. Yet, in many low-income and middle-income countries, achieving coverage targets independently is hindered by lack of domestic resources and reliance on partners' support. Both the 2001 Abuja Declaration and 2016 Addis Declaration were key political commitments to improving immunisation coverage; however, many signatories have yet to meet international targets.

Strengthening immunization programs through innovative sub-national public-private partnerships in selected provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Background: Low immunization coverage rates in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been reflective of challenges with vaccine access, support and delivery in the country. Motivated by measles and vaccine-derived polio virus (VDPV) outbreaks in 2016-17 and low vaccination rates, the provinces of Haut Lomami and Tanganyika were identified as pilot locations for an innovative approach focused on establishing a consortium of partners supporting local government. This approach was formalized through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Provincial governments in 2018.

Applying innovative approaches for reaching men who have sex with men and female sex workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Background: In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), men who have sex with men (MSM) and female sex workers (FSW) have the highest HIV prevalence but have the least access to services due to their marginalization within Congolese society.

Methods: The Projet Intégré de VIH/SIDA au Congo (ProVIC) aims to reduce the risk and impact of HIV in the DRC through community- and facility-based prevention, counseling and testing, and treatment strategies aimed at high-risk populations, including MSM and FSW. To more effectively meet the needs of key populations, ProVIC tailored the existing interventions to better suit MSM and FSW by offering mobile counseling and rapid HIV testing services at night in MSM and FSW "hotspots," targeting outreach to and mobilizing key populations through social networks of MSM and FSW peer educators and recruiters, and referring MSM and FSW who test HIV positive to "friendly" clinics.