Republic of Congo : The Government of Japan supports schools and health centres rehabilitation and implementation of free access education in Congo
Brazzaville : The Government of Japan has provided a grant of more than four million US dollars, or 1.8 billion francs CFA, to the Republic of Congo, through the United Nations Children’s Funds (UNICEF), to support Government policies of free primary education and promoting primary health care.
This funding, from the Government of Japan’s Grant Aid scheme for community empowerment, will enable 6,650 pupils to access to primary education of good quality by building, rehabilitating and equipping 27 primary schools in the departments of Plateaux, Brazzaville and the Pool. The funds will be used by the Ministry of education to ensure that the pupils benefit from a “Child friendly and girl friendly school”, specifically with adequate equipment, manuals, safe water supply and appropriate latrines, and improved teachers’ skills. In addition, most vulnerable children will be targeted with subsidies and supplies to improve access.
Furthermore, 7 community day care centers built with this grant will benefit 500 children aged 3 to 5 years in the three concerned departments. With UNICEF support, the Government is committed to develop preparedness to primary education and improve emotional, cognitive and psychomotor development of children.
This grant will also allow building or rehabilitating 8 health centres and equip them with medical supplies, essential drugs and latrines and water points, in order to ensure quality primary health care for women and children. Finally, the grant will strengthen community mobilization for creating an enabling environment for the respect of the rights of children in three departments where UNICEF has been supporting the Government in delivering a package of essential interventions for child survival, development and protection.
It has to be noted that, since 2003, the Government of Japan, through UNICEF, has supported the Congolese Government in acquiring insecticide impregnated nets as well as other essential commodities for child survival. This allowed the Republic of Congo to achieve outstanding progress in malaria control.