RAISR4D Violence

Inclusion under fire: lessons from neglected tropical disease programming in the Kanyaruchinya Internally Displaced Persons Camp, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

08/05/2026

AI Summary

Conflict-driven displacement and insecurity severely impede delivery and coverage of NTD interventions in IDP settings.
Assessments revealed gaps in mass drug administration, morbidity management and disability inclusion among displaced populations.
NTD programmes must adopt disability-sensitive approaches and build resilient, adaptable interventions for insecurity, displacement and marginalisation.

Int Health. 2026 May 8;18(3):337-339. doi: 10.1093/inthealth/ihaf152.

ABSTRACT

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, conflict-driven displacement has challenged the delivery of neglected tropical disease (NTD) interventions. In 2022-2023, The National Preventive Chemotherapy Neglected Tropical Diseases Program and Christian Blind Mission, with financial support from the END Fund, conducted field assessments and surveys in the Kanyaruchinya Internally Displaced Persons Camp in North Kivu, where >230 000 people had fled armed violence. This article shares lessons from implementing inclusive NTD programming in crisis settings, identifying gaps in mass drug administration, morbidity management and disability inclusion. The findings reinforce the need to integrate disability-sensitive approaches in humanitarian health responses and build resilient NTD interventions that adapt to insecurity, displacement and marginalization.

PMID:42101815 | DOI:10.1093/inthealth/ihaf152

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