In Republic of the Congo, the WHO World Health Report (2004) indicates an adult mortality⁶ rate per 1000 population of 474 for males and 410 for females. Life expectancy for males is 51.6; for females 54.5. Healthy life expectancy is 45.3 for males; 47.3 for females.⁷

HIV/AIDS is a huge burden for sub-Saharan Africa. Throughout the region in 2003, an estimated 23-27 million people were thought to be living with the disease which also caused up to 2.5 million deaths. This represents a huge loss and impacts significantly on health systems and social and family structures.

Republic of the Congo is a country in Western Africa that has been severely affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Estimates suggest that in Republic of the Congo, between 39,000 and 200,000 people were living with HIV/AIDS at the end of 2003. In the same year, up to 20,000 adults and children are thought to have died from the disease (Table 3).

Table 3 Republic of the Congo: HIV and AIDS estimates, end 2003

Source: 2004 Report on the global AIDS epidemic

UNAIDS reports:

The Republic of the Congo is a post-conflict country that has been engaged in consistent development since 2003. It is classified by the World Bank among the countries with the lowest income (Global Fund guidelines 2004). The only significant prevalence study was undertaken between November and December 2003. Highly contrasting rates were observed around the country: 1.3% in Impfondo and Djambala, 10.3% in Sibiti and 3.3% in Brazzaville. The Southern region has the highest rates: Sibiti, Dolisie (9.4%), Pointe-Noire (5.0%) and Madingou (4.7%). In general, adults over 30 years had the highest infection rate, almost 10% of 35–49-year-old men, and 7% of women 25–39 years old are living with the disease. (National AIDS Committee [Comité National de Lutte contre le SIDA, CNLS]/ Study Centre for Public Health Development, CREDES, 2003). The National Strategic Framework (NSF) 2003–2007 was adopted in December 2002. The CNLS was officially launched by the head of state in July 2003. Congo held a resource mobilization meeting in July 2003. The MAP is being formulated and the country submitted a request to the fourth round of the Global Fund.

UNAIDS facilitated a joint visit by five heads of UN agencies (WHO, World Bank, UNICEF, UNDP, WFP) and the Country Coordinator to the minister in charge of coordinating governmental action, in order to address national HIV/AIDS issues. UNAIDS facilitated information sharing through feedback sessions following consultants' missions, the sharing of best practices documents and publications by all cosponsors, and oral presentations to large audiences for communicating the latest information on HIV/AIDS. UNAIDS supported the elaboration of a national strategic framework and sectoral and departmental operational plans. UNAIDS facilitated the organization of the resource mobilization round table, the development of the country Global Fund proposal, and participated in facilitating the achievement of the requirements for the country to benefit from MAP funding. PAF resources were utilized in collaboration with UNDP to develop and reinforce partnerships with religious bodies and associations of people living with HIV. UNAIDS and the World Bank are facilitating and supporting the NAC in developing a monitoring and evaluation system with the participation of all partners.⁸