An agreement between Italy and the Republic of the Congo was signed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome to support a budget assistance programme aimed at developing integrated healthcare services. The initiative includes an initial Italian contribution of up to EUR 45 million, of which EUR 15 million will be a grant and EUR 30 million a loan, disbursed based on progress monitoring.
The agreement was signed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Edmondo Cirielli, and the Minister of International Cooperation of the Republic of the Congo, Denis Christel Sassou Nguesso.
The initiative, approved by the Joint Committee on 30 September 2024, represents a significant intervention by Italian Cooperation following the inclusion of the Republic of the Congo among the pilot countries of the Mattei Plan and in anticipation of the approval of the new 2024-2026 Three-Year Programming and Policy Planning Document.
The initiative aims to improve access to and expand the coverage of healthcare services for the population of the Republic of the Congo. It seeks to strengthen the Congolese national health system, enabling it to provide advanced care, accurate diagnoses, and effective treatments, thereby significantly reducing mortality and morbidity rates among the most vulnerable groups.
