A comprehensive approach to providing services to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Democratic Republic of Congo: addressing more than physical trauma

ABSTRACT

The eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is impacted by a prolonged conflict and humanitarian crisis. Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) affects an estimated 39.7% of women and 23.6% of men in the region, and is associated with serious medical, psychological, and socio-economic outcomes for survivors and communities. IMA World Health, a faith-based non-profit organisation, implements a USAID-funded project, Ushindi, which is a collaborative effort with three national NGOs and one technical partner in response to SGBV in eastern DRC. The consortium provides a comprehensive package of services to SGBV survivors, focusing on medical, emotional, psychological, legal, and socio-economic needs.

L'est de la République Démocratique du Congo (RDC) souffre d'un conflit et d'une crise humanitaire qui se prolongent. Dans la région, la violence sexuelle et fondée sur le genre (VSBG) affecte 39,7 % des femmes et 23,6 % des hommes, et pour les survivants et les communautés, elle est associée à de graves problèmes médicaux, psychologiques et socioéconomiques. IMA WORLD HEALTH, une organisation confessionnelle à but non lucratif, met en œuvre un projet collaboratif financé par USAID et appelé Ushindi, auquel participent trois ONG et un partenaire technique, en riposte à la VSBG dans l'est de la RDC. Le consortium offre aux survivants de la VSBG un ensemble de services centrés sur leurs besoins médicaux, émotionnels, psychologiques, juridiques et socioéconomiques.

El oriente de la República Democrática del Congo (rdc) ha sido afectado por una prolongada crisis conflictiva y humanitaria. Se calcula que la violencia sexual y de género (vsg) en esta región ha afligido a 39.7% de las mujeres y 23.6% de los hombres. Ello ha provocado serias afectaciones en los sobrevivientes y sus comunidades, constatándose graves resultados médicos, psicológicos y socioeconómicos. Con el propósito de responder a la vsg en el oriente de la rdc, ima World Health, una organización religiosa sin fines de lucro, impulsa el proyecto Ushindi, financiado por usaid. Este conjunta los esfuerzos colaborativos de tres ong nacionales y un socio técnico. Dicho consorcio proporciona un paquete integral de servicios a los sobrevivientes de la vsg, centrándose en sus necesidades médicas, emocionales, psicológicas, legales y socioeconómicas.

KEYWORDS:

• Social sector – Health
• Gender and diversity
• Sub-Saharan Africa

Acknowledgements

We wish to acknowledge the survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in the eastern DRC for their courage and resilience. We would also like to thank the numerous health workers, social workers, and other community leaders who provide much-needed services to very vulnerable populations. A big thank you goes to our implementing partners HEAL Africa, Fondation Panzi, Programme de Promotion des Sois de Santé Primaires (PPSSP), the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA-ROLI), and numerous national (local) faith-based organisations.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Cudjoe Bennett is the Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor for IMA World Health. He has a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree from George Washington University and an MPH from Columbia University.

Manka Banda, based in Kinshasa DRC, is a graduate of Emory University (MPH) and the Monitoring and Evaluation Adviser for the Ushindi Project.

Lior Miller was a Senior Programme Officer with IMA World Health, and holds an MS in Health, Community and Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Joseph Ciza is based in Goma, DRC and is a Congolese nurse with postgraduate training in Public Health. He is the Programme Manager of the Ushindi Project.

William Clemmer, based in Goma, DRC, is a graduate of Howard University/University of Massachusetts (MD/MPH) and the Chief of Party of the Ushindi Project.

Mary Linehan is IMA World Health’s Senior Technical Director.

Larry Sthreshley is based in Kinshasa, DRC and is a graduate of University of North Carolina/Tulane University (DrPH, MPH). He is IMA’s Country Director in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Notes

1. See http://dhsprogram.com/What-We-Do/Survey-Types/DHS.cfm.

Additional information

Funding

This study is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under Cooperative Agreement No. # AID-623-A-10-00012-00. The contents are the responsibility of IMA World Health and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.