Kinshasa: The United States and Congo signed a $1.2 billion health partnership Thursday, the two countries’ governments said in a joint statement. The agreement aims to bolster Congo’s healthcare system, focusing on combating prevalent diseases and reducing mortality rates.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the Department of State will provide up to $900 million over the next five years to support the Central African country. This funding will target efforts to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child mortality, and other infectious diseases. In return, Congo’s government has committed to increasing its own domestic health expenditures by $300 million over the same period.
U.S. aid cuts have previously impacted health systems across the developing world, including in Africa, where countries relied heavily on such funding for essential health programs. This new partnership signifies a renewed commitment to addressing critical health challenges in the region.
The State Department has signed 19 bilateral global health partnerships with African countries as of Thursday, marking a significant step in international health collaboration.