WFP launch the HIV/AIDS Prevention project "River of Hope" with MONUC's assistance

16 Apr 2009

WFP launch the HIV/AIDS Prevention project "River of Hope" with MONUC's assistance

The World Food Programme's (WFP) "River of Hope" project, part of the UN Joint Programme "Transporting Hope," completed its first trip on the Congo river from Kinshasa to Mbandaka on 9 March 2009. MONUC's HIV team sensitized the crews and users of river transport on the threat of HIV and means of prevention for 3 weeks from 25 Febrary to 9 March 2009, traveling through the provinces of Kinshasa, Bandundu and Equateur.

More than 8,000 people were reached by this prevention campaign and 36,300 condoms were distributed in 9 pre-selected ports between Kinshasa and Mbandaka. (Maluku, Kaba, Kwamouth, Bolobo, Tshange, Lukolela, Ngombe, Lolanga and Mbandaka)

The total absence of preventive actions on the main rivers of the DRC is one of the main causes of the growing HIV/AIDS propagation along the numerous rivers of the country.

The "River of Hope" project thus responds to a real need, well known to local authorities who greatly facilitated the implementation of this project. MONUC effectively facilitated the contact with local authorities.

The successful collaboration between the government, UN and MONUC, and their partners, NGOs, private companies and provincial actors fighting HIV/AIDS, contributed to the tremendous success of this operation initiated and managed by the WFP in the DRC, and funded by the Open Society Institute Foundation.

The HIV prevention activities implemented in the "River of Hope" project included:
  • Mobile videos (3 films) to sensitize river transport workers and users and at-risk populations on HIV/AIDS threats and prevention methods
  • Interactive "Question and answer" sessions after each film, and the staging of a contest amongst participants
  • Promotion and distribution of condoms to participants
  • Specific condensed HIV prevention training given to community leaders/NGO/local military authorities,
  • Promotional material on HIV prevention supplied to local leaders, authorities and NGOs;
  • Visits to local health structures with the director of the health zone. An assessment of the available HIV prevention / VCT / treatment tools was also done.
The "River of Hope" project culminated with an official ceremony on 11 March 2009 in Mbandaka, capital of Equateur province. The highest authorities of the Province, as well as national and international representatives of UN Agencies and NGOs implicated in the fight against HIV/AIDS all participated in this event.