Ruptly
"The suspension of World Bank funding in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is worsening access to healthcare, with hospitals facing higher fees, drug shortages and shrinking resources. Footage captured in Minova, South Kivu province, on Wednesday shows medical staff carrying out ultrasound scans, checking patients’ blood pressure and caring for babies under observation. Patients are also seen resting on hospital beds. "Since the war started, things have been terrible here in Minova. Finding even a banana or any fruit is difficult. In this case, if it were a matter of paying for medication, we would die here in the hospital," patient Asifiwe Mashariki said. "We don’t have the means to go to the hospital or to get treatment. This is what is causing the deaths of many people. We are asking for help. If this funding is cut, people will die like flies," another patient, Nelly Kabunda, stressed. Doctors Without Borders, also known as Medecins Sans Frontieres, is continuing to provide free care in the area, but says needs are rising dramatically as other health actors withdraw. Medical officer Djoubissi Francoise Elodie said the end of donor-backed free care had made it increasingly difficult for mothers to pay for childbirth and neonatal services. "The fear is that the situation will worsen, especially as more actors continue to withdraw. If this continues, we risk experiencing a health crisis in the coming days," she explained, while appealing for support on behalf of Doctors Without Borders. "Of course, we are here, but our support is temporary because we are an emergency response organisation. We respond to emergencies and advocate for others to take over," Elodie added. Shortages of medicines, vaccines and nutritional supplies are affecting most health zones in South Kivu. Doctors Without Borders said measles vaccines were unavailable for several months in 2025, despite outbreaks in 24 of the province’s 34 health zones. In Minova, the impact has been stark. After World Bank support through the Multisectoral Nutrition and Health Project ended, and other partners withdrew in early 2026, Minova General Reference Hospital introduced fees for obstetric and neonatal care, including up to $100 for a caesarean section and $50 for premature newborn care."
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