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Introduction: For three decades, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has faced recurrent wars. These have caused a significant burden of morbidity and mortality. In this context, the Katana Health Zone experienced several events that could have hampered the functioning of its health centers, which nevertheless continued to operate.Purpose of research: This study aims to identify specific determinants that have enabled health centers to adapt to a changing context. This is a cross-sectional study using mixed data, carried out in the Mugeri, Ihimbi and Ciranga health centers during the period 1990-2017 for qualitative data and from 2013 to 2017 for the quantitative data. It is based on observation, documentary review and individual interviews with 55 informants.

Results: The main events identified are the recurring rebellions, the massive arrival of refugees, the arrival of humanitarian aid, the earthquakes and the instability of human resources. The supply of services and care has continued thanks to the adaptation mechanisms developed, including the development and application of new directives and standards and dynamic community participation.

Conclusions: On the one hand, the study demonstrates the value of adapting the procedures for managing financial aid and the operation of a health center in the event of a change in context; the effectiveness of a more structured and regular collaboration between different actors and the appropriation of the activities of the health center by the community. On the other hand, the study identifies the limits of selective and ad hoc interventions, which do not favor the effective development of health centers.