Defying odds to gain victory

Association de Bien-Etre Familial –
Naissances Désirables (ABEF-ND) was founded in 1977, in the vast land of Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire).

Association de Bien-Etre Familial – Naissances Désirables (ABEF-ND) was formed to respond to the acute reproductive health needs of the population.

Since its foundation, ABEF-ND has worked tirelessly to ensure that family planning gets
the attention it deserves, and to ensure the sexual and reproductive health and rights of our target groups.

We have grown to encompass areas of reproductive health beyond family planning:

• sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information, education and communication for young people
• prevention and management of HIV/AIDS
• community-based distribution of contraceptives 
• advocacy around SRH issues

The main beneficiaries of these services are young men and women, couples, refugees and
internally displaced persons.

The number of clients coming to ABEF-ND for these services has been growing tremendously.

In 2006, 491,811 clients benefited from the services offered in our clinics and outreach visits.

We played a crucial role during the National Conference on the Positioning of Family Planning in the country.

This conference resulted in recommendations that saw the removal of Article 78 of the Penal Code, which posed a significant barrier to offering and using family planning services.

Poor sexual and reproductive indicators reveal much work to be done.

A high maternal mortality rate of 990 per 100,000 live births; a modern contraceptive prevalence of 4 per cent; a total fertility rate of 6.7 (representing, in part, unmet need); and a infant mortality rate of 110, are some of the challenges that continue to make the work of ABEF-ND strenuous.

Service delivery points
4 branches and 2 clinics

Members of governing body
5

Staff and volunteers
23 staff and 461 volunteers

Voluntary counselling and testing sites
1

Youth centres
2

Members of the Youth Action Movement
192 (established September 2004)

Peer educators
68

Community-based distributors
155

Advanced workplace strategy
4

Partnerships
Government: Ministry of Health
CCM: Member of the Mechanism at national level
Private Sector: Faith-based health facilities
NGOs: SCEV, RAF, RCP+, Amo Congo
Donors: PNLS, UNFPA, UNHCR, GTZ
Networks: Member of the Federation of NGOs
Against AIDS; Member of the National Council of
NGOs Against AIDS.