A promising alliance for public health in Brazzaville
The visit paid on 17 September by Dr Vincent Dossou Sodjinou, World Health Organization Representative to the Republic of Congo, to the freshly inaugurated “Elombe” sports-and-health house marked more than a courtesy call. It crystallised a convergence of visions between the United Nations agency and the local non-governmental organisation Marcher Courir Pour La Cause (MCPLC), headed by entrepreneur-advocate Rodrigue Dinga Mbomi. In the presence of staff and volunteers, Dr Sodjinou openly acknowledged the “added value” of an association that has chosen physical activity and early screening as the spearheads of its fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs), chiefly diabetes, in urban and peri-urban Congo-Brazzaville.
Aligning with WHO’s global NCD roadmap
The interest expressed by the WHO representative is hardly fortuitous. MCPLC’s fieldwork dovetails with the four strategic pillars the Organisation promotes worldwide: reducing exposure to risk factors, strengthening health systems, fostering multisectoral partnerships and improving surveillance. By pledging to “translate confidence into reality” through technical assistance, Dr Sodjinou signalled that the Brazzaville pilot could become a template for community-based prevention in Central Africa. Such endorsement is particularly meaningful in a country where NCDs account for an estimated two-thirds of adult mortality, mirroring global trends.
Sport, culture and screening: the MCPLC method
If the Elombe centre is the physical symbol of MCPLC’s ambition, the NGO’s signature remains its ability to mobilise large, diverse audiences. During the fifth edition of the ‘Traversée du Mayombe’, scheduled for 2025 but already in preparation, 3 000 participants underwent free screening—an unprecedented scale for a civil-society initiative in the health sector. The forthcoming World Diabetes Day on 14 November will offer another test. MCPLC plans the ‘Taxi Bomoyi’ contest, turning urban taxi drivers into roving peer-educators capable of spotting symptoms and disseminating prevention messages to thousands of commuters each day. A cultural evening, branded “Elombe”, will weave artistic performances and medical counselling, reinforcing the link between lifestyle, identity and health.
From pilot projects to national resource
For Dr Sodjinou, the value of MCPLC lies not only in creative events but also in its potential to federate disparate NCD initiatives. The objective, spelled out during the Brazzaville meeting, is to integrate data, training modules and best practices generated by civil society into the information systems of the Ministry of Health. Such institutional anchoring would give the government a robust grassroots partner in pursuing its national health policy without duplicating structures. MCPLC would, in turn, gain the policy leverage and technical rigour that come with WHO facilitation. As Rodrigue Dinga Mbomi noted, the very construction of the Elombe house was financed through a single charity evening. Scaling up will therefore require predictable partnerships, not just episodic generosity.
Legal and economic perspective on community health hubs
Under Congolese law, health promotion associations must navigate registration requirements and reporting obligations similar to those governing public-interest foundations. MCPLC’s transparent fundraising—public gala, audited accounts and traceable disbursements—places the NGO on favourable legal footing should it seek a formal memorandum of understanding with the Ministry. Economically, the cost-effectiveness argument is compelling: every case of type 2 diabetes prevented saves the public insurance scheme a lifetime of dialysis and complications. By embedding screening in sports and transport circuits, MCPLC lowers marginal costs while elevating public awareness.
The WHO’s prospective support may extend to protocol design and epidemiological evaluation, prerequisites for donor funding. In a macroeconomic environment still adjusting to oil-price volatility, such blended financing—combining local philanthropy, multilateral expertise and eventual budgetary lines—offers a realistic pathway to sustain what began as a volunteer-driven dream.
Key takeaways for stakeholders
MCPLC’s partnership with the WHO illustrates the strategic importance of community actors in achieving national health targets. It reinforces the government’s objective to curb the NCD burden while showcasing Congo-Brazzaville’s capacity to innovate beyond classical hospital-centric models. For the private sector and international partners, the Elombe centre provides a concrete venue for corporate social responsibility programmes aligned with global Sustainable Development Goals. Above all, for ordinary citizens, the message is clear: combating diabetes starts with simple, collective gestures—walking, running and sharing knowledge—that can reshape public health trajectories.