Clean Water and Improved Healthcare Transform Lives in Kasaï, DRC
For years, residents of Kasaï faced significant challenges accessing basic necessities like clean water and adequate healthcare. Papa Mutombo Tambwe recalls a difficult past, stating, “We used to drink water that was full of germs, which caused a lot of suffering for all of us.” This reality is now changing thanks to sustained investment in infrastructure and community progress.
Previously, healthcare was delivered in rudimentary facilities. Mulanga Ntambwe describes the health center in Tshibumba as “just a small building made of earth and straw.” Despite its limitations, it served as a vital resource for villagers due to the lack of alternatives and the difficulties posed by poor roads in Tshikapa, which hindered safe and timely transport.
A turning point arrived over a decade ago with the launch of the Project for the Reinforcement of Socioeconomic Infrastructure (PRISE). Beginning in 2013, the first phase of PRISE, funded by the African Development Fund with $161.46 million, initiated a large-scale change. This initial investment resulted in the construction of 60 schools, 60 health centres, 504 latrines, and 60 drinking water supply systems across urban areas of Tshikapa and Mbuji-Mayi, and rural areas within five provinces of the democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This brought safer water, improved educational facilities, and more appropriate healthcare access to thousands of families.
The success of the first phase spurred expansion. the Congolese government,in partnership with the African Development Bank Group,broadened the initiative to encompass other provinces,with the ultimate goal of nationwide coverage.
This ambition is now actively unfolding in the three Kasaï provinces, which are home to over eight million people – approximately 12% of the DRC’s total population. The second phase, PRISE II, boasts a budget of $69.74 million, with 95% of funding provided by the African Development Fund. Progress is already evident,with 22 new water supply systems,41 schools,40 health centres,and 88 latrines currently under construction or nearing completion.
Almost 75% of the work is finished and already impacting lives. Ntshila Muswamba, a mother in mikalayi, Central Kasaï, exemplifies this change, expressing her relief: “Tap water is very different from water from the forest. It is nearby, clean, and we are relieved.”
Beyond the physical infrastructure, PRISE is fostering economic prospect and building resilience. The project has generated over 2,200 permanent jobs,with women holding two-thirds of these positions. Furthermore, the initiative supports training for young people as plumbers and empowers communities to manage their water resources, while also promoting the adoption of improved hygiene practices. In the face of climate change, these community-driven solutions are as crucial as the infrastructure itself.
The African Development Bank Group’s investment in Kasaï represents more than just statistics; it embodies a transformative vision for the DRC. It’s a commitment to a future where every Congolese family can live with dignity and hope,and every new water tap,classroom,and health centre stands as a testament to a collective journey towards a fairer and more sustainable future.