Since the official launch of the free cesarean section program in 2022, thousands of Congolese women have been able to give birth safely without fear of plunging their families into debt. This measure, reactivated and operationalized at the Ministry of Health level, represents one of the major social advancements of recent years.
Previously, when faced with an obstetric complication requiring surgery, many families were confronted with a terrible choice: go deeply into debt or risk the lives of the mother and child. Accounts from women who had lost loved ones because they couldn’t afford the operation were unfortunately common.
Today, the situation has changed. In public maternity hospitals across the country, cesarean sections are performed at no cost to the patient. The state covers all expenses, from the surgical procedure to post-operative hospitalization.
“When the doctor told me I needed a C-section, I was scared,” recounts a young mother in a Brazzaville hospital. “Not of the operation, but of the cost. Then they explained it was free. I couldn’t believe it. Today, my baby is healthy and I have no debt.”
The impact of the program extends beyond the medical field. By removing the financial barrier, it reduces maternal and infant mortality, as well as the economic vulnerability of poor households facing a health emergency.
This measure is part of a broader health protection strategy, which also includes the rollout of universal health insurance (RAMU/CAMU) since 2023 and the construction of new hospitals in Oyé, Djiri, Ngoyo, Sibiti, and Ouesso.
The free cesarean program embodies President Denis Sassou-Nguesso’s commitment to making healthcare access a reality for all Congolese, regardless of their means. By turning a presidential promise into effective public policy, it demonstrates a governance model that places the health of mothers and children at the heart of national priorities.