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‘You say rape, I say hospitals. But whose voice is louder?’ Health, aid and decision-making in the Democratic Republic of Congo

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  • Nicole C. D'Errico
  • Tshibangu Kalala
  • Louise Bashige Nzigire
  • Felicien Maisha
  • Luc Malemo Kalisya

Abstract

In the last decade, scholars and humanitarians have rightly drawn attention to the high rates of gender-based violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which are associated with the high levels of conflict in the country since 1996. However, this focus detracts from the general health problems that stem from the deterioration of the health sector, which began long before the outbreak of war. This article analyses local perceptions of the determinants of maternal health and illness in eastern DRC, and identifies ways in which women cope with barriers to health care that derive from an inadequate and/or absent health-care system. The article demonstrates that in both urban and rural locations in all four provinces of eastern DRC, women have organised to address their own vulnerabilities, which, according to them, amount to more than exposure to gender-based violence. The existence of these informal systems demonstrates the need to reassess the image of Congolese women as primarily passive victims and/or targets of violence. The article suggests that these culturally rooted indigenous solutions be evaluated as worthy recipients of development funding, which is often exclusively offered to international organisations. [« Vous dites viol, je dis hôpitaux. Mais qui parle le plus fort ? » : La santé, l'aide et la prise de décision dans la République Démocratique du Congo]. Durant la dernière décennie, les érudits et les humanitaires ont correctement attiré l'attention sur les taux élevés de violence sur la seule base du genre dans l'est de la République Démocratique du Congo (RDC), qui sont en lien avec les hauts niveaux de conflit dans le pays depuis 1996. Pourtant, cette attention sur les violences sexuelles détourne l'attention qui devrait être portée aux problèmes sanitaires généraux qui sont dus à la détérioration du secteur de la santé, qui a commencé longtemps avant l'émergence de la guerre. Cet article examine les perceptions locales des déterminants de la santé maternelle et de la maladie dans l'est de la RDC et identifie les manières avec lesquelles les femmes s'adaptent aux difficultés d'accès aux soins de santé qui résultent d'un système de santé publique insuffisant et/ou absent. L'article montre que dans les zones tant urbaines que rurales et dans les quatre provinces de l'est de la RDC, les femmes se sont organisées pour faire face à leurs propres vulnérabilités, qui, selon elles, représentent un problème plus important que l'exposition à la violence fondée sur le genre. L'existence de ces systèmes informels démontre le besoin de reconsidérer l'image des femmes congolaises comme étant en premier lieu des victimes passives et/ou des objets de violences. L'article suggère que ces solutions culturellement enracinées dans le modèle local pourraient être évaluées comme des bénéficiaires louables de l'aide au développement, laquelle est souvent exclusivement délivrée à des organisations internationales. Mots-clés : Congo ; viol ; santé ; violence liée au genre ; conflit

Suggested Citation

  • Nicole C. D'Errico & Tshibangu Kalala & Louise Bashige Nzigire & Felicien Maisha & Luc Malemo Kalisya, 2013. "‘You say rape, I say hospitals. But whose voice is louder?’ Health, aid and decision-making in the Democratic Republic of Congo," Review of African Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(135), pages 51-66, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:revape:v:40:y:2013:i:135:p:51-66
    DOI: 10.1080/03056244.2012.761962
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