Central African Republic News

Bangui—For more than 30 years Regina Patricia Pepa, a midwife and president of the Central African Republic’s Midwives and Birth Attendants Association, has supported thousands of women throughout their journey to motherhood and become a reference for many generations of caregivers, while remaining grounded by the challenges and realities of childbirth. In her long carer she has combined hands-on experience with teaching, heading the Bachelor’s programme in Nursing Sciences at Bangui University where she lectures.

Bangui—The Central African Republic has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with 829 deaths per 100 000 live births recorded in 2023.

Behind these numbers lie painful realities: women giving birth far from health facilities, long distances to reach the facilities, limited resources and sometimes beliefs that hinder access to care.

Mbaïki – Cyrille Bakake is a motorcycle ambulance driver at the Bagandou health centre, about 100 kilometers from Bangui, the Central African Republic’s capital. This 30-year-old father of four, a farmer by trade, became an ambulance driver in 2018. His work is similar to that of any other ambulance driver, but his vehicle is a motorcycle. 

Bangui – In the ongoing efforts to eradicate polio, the Central African Republic has placed a special emphasis on reaching vulnerable and underserved populations. Populations in mining regions like Zoubala, a locality in the Bossombélé district about two hours from Bangui, the capital, face unique challenges and heightened risks of poliovirus transmission.