Serving the needs of the Congo Brazzaville people
Association Congolaise pour le Bien-
Etre Familial (ACBEF) was a small organization that started in 1987, to cater for the reproductive health needs of the Congolese living in urban centres. It has now spread to every corner of Congo Brazzaville.
Many Congolese look to ACBEF for a variety of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services.
At the moment, within our programmes, we offer:
- integrated family planning
- antenatal and post-natal care
- voluntary counselling and testing (VCT)
- management of HIV/AIDS
- post-abortion care
- youth-friendly approaches in service outlets
- youth centres
- laboratory services
Among those targeted to benefit from these services are:
- young people below 25 years of age
- rural and urban populations
- internally displaced people
- sex workers
- men and women of child bearing age
Every year, the Association Congolaise pour le Bien-Etre Familial (ACBEF)’s impressive
service statistics are testimony to the reach and popularity of the Member Association.
In 2006 22,657 clients were served, the majority of whom were marginalized or under-served people.
ACBEF's has had positive coverage from the media, who disseminated SRH information.
Similar arrangements with local NGO networks to advocate for better laws, and influence politicians to put reproductive health on top of their health agenda, are having a strong impact on raising
the priority and visibility of sexual and reproductive health issues.
Though visibility of family planning and sexual and reproductive health is increasing, there is much work to be done.
In many environments, people are still reluctant to
speak openly and frankly about sex, and there is stigma and taboo attached to sexually
transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.
The use of modern contraceptives lies stagnant at 13 per cent prevalence; total fertility rate stands at 5.3 per cent; maternal mortality rate was 510 per 100,000 live births at the end of 2007, and lack of enough resources to provide the services and information needed to change these figures are
just a few of the problems we face.
Service delivery points
12 branches and 2 clinics
Members of governing body
7 (including 2 women)
Staff/volunteers
58 staff and 700 volunteers
Voluntary counselling and testing centres
3
Youth centres
1
Members of Young Action Movement
42
Peer educators
82
Community-based distributors
100
Partnerships
Government: Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Gender
NGOs: Jeunesse Action Sida, Jeunes +
Partnerships
Donors: European Union, UNFPA, Congolese
Government, IPPF