International relations
2026 | City of Namur project with the NGO PASCO in Masina (Kinshasa): concrete actions to promote health continue on the ground
As part of the partnership project between the City of Namur and the Congolese NGO PASCO (Parlons Sida aux Communautaires), with the support of Wallonia-Brussels International (WBI), MPOX and HIV prevention activities are continuing in the municipality of Masina, in Kinshasa.
During the first half of 2026, PASCO carried out a wide range of awareness-raising activities among residents, young people, teachers and key populations. In total, 2,903 people were reached through awareness-raising activities on MPOX, HIV and human rights, as well as on combating disinformation, stigma and discrimination.
Prevention also involves radio
To reach a wider audience, PASCO also uses the media as an awareness-raising tool. In June, two programmes dedicated to MPOX prevention were broadcast on B-One, helping to inform the population and answer the many questions surrounding the disease and its prevention.
These media activities complement the work carried out directly on the ground by the teams and peer educators: awareness-raising campaigns, educational discussions, referrals to health services and follow-up of people who have been exposed.
The initial results demonstrate the importance of these efforts. 89 MPOX alerts were recorded and 42 cases were confirmed, while 360 suspected cases were referred to healthcare facilities for appropriate care.
On the occasion of the visit to Namur by Mr Michel Lay, coordinator of the NGO PASCO, a meeting was organised with Hospital Without Borders (HWB) on 7 September. The meeting followed on from contacts initiated in 2023 regarding the possibility of supporting PASCO’s activities through the provision of medical equipment.
The meeting gave the coordinator an opportunity to visit HWB’s facilities and discuss the needs identified in Masina, as well as the medical equipment that could be useful for the activities carried out there. As a first step, a small quantity of equipment will be made available to the NGO PASCO.
With the support of
