Project AXxes

Improving overall health care in DRC

From 2006-2011, IMA World Health has been the leader of Project AXxes, a massive USAID-funded health systems development program targeting eight million people in post-conflict areas of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The main objective is to improve the availability, quality and capacity of overall health care in 57 rural health zones adversely affected by years of civil war, neglect and relative isolation.

Led by IMA, the consortium of implementing partners includes the Protestant Church of Congo (Eglise du Christ au Congo, or ECC), World Vision and Catholic Relief Services.

Main Components

Project AXxes is a multifaceted program, encompassing a wide range of essential health care components:

• Increase access to and quality of maternal and child health services including immunization, HIV prevention, water/sanitation, family planning and addressing specific diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis
• Train health care workers and improve the clinical capacity at the hospital and clinic level
• Support and improve national Ministry of Health programs
• Strengthen the sustainability of health care programs by working with government and private stakeholders to collect and analyze data for better decision making
• Incorporate additional related project work from a variety of funding sources, including the World Bank's $18.5 million PMURR program, Axios, Abbott Pharmaceuticals, BD and others to improve infrastructure, support critical maternal health programs and more.

Before Project AXxes: SANRU III

IMA World Health has been involved in health systems development in DRC since 2001 when it implemented the USAID-funded SANRU (SANté Rural) III Project, which lasted until 2006 and provided the foundation for Project AXxes.

Since 2001, Frank Baer—former Mennonite missionary and USAID health officer—has been the Senior Technical Advisor to IMA for the DRC. Three long-term missionaries—Bill Clemmer and Wayne Niles of the American Baptist Church and Larry Sthresthley of the Presbyterian Church USA— have provided direction and leadership on these projects.

Where We Work

DRC