From 15 to 21 December 2025, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in collaboration with the national Countdown to 2030 country team, convened the 2025 Annual EPI Review in Matadi, Kongo-Central Province. The meeting incorporated a strategic dissemination session of findings on immunization coverage and inequalities, drawing on analyses from the regional Countdown analytical workshop held in Dakar.

A high-level dialogue grounded in action

Chaired by the Director of the EPI, the event brought together more than 100 participants in person, including Heads of Divisions from all 26 provinces, Provincial Medical Coordinators and Antenna Heads, alongside a wide range of technical and financial partners. This broad representation ensured that the evidence shared was firmly connected to operational realities and decision-making processes across the health system.

Clear objectives to turn data into decisions

The dissemination strategy pursued three core objectives:

• Share recent evidence generated through joint analyses by the Ministry of Health and academic partners, notably the School of Public Health of the University of Kinshasa
• Stimulate the uptake of Countdown findings by decision-makers and implementers
• Strengthen monitoring of immunization indicators, with a particular focus on geographic and systemic inequalities

Results presented by the Countdown DRC team

Findings were presented by Dr Francis Kabasubabo and Pierre Akilimali from the Countdown DRC team. Discussions highlighted persistent gaps in immunization coverage, the need to improve the quality and timeliness of DHIS2 data, and the importance of extending analyses to the level of health facilities, not only districts.

Key recommendations from stakeholders

Several practical recommendations emerged from the exchanges:

• Expand analyses of data completeness and timeliness down to health facilities
• Promote systematic use of DHIS2 data to improve evidence-informed decision-making
• Develop targeted dissemination products, including EPI-specific roll-ups and a policy brief to guide immunization policy

Next steps and institutional anchoring

The Countdown DRC team plans to make tailored visual dissemination materials available in the weeks following the workshop and to produce a policy-oriented information brief on immunization. Results will also be shared through digital channels and institutional websites, reaching decision-makers, partners, and the research community.

Why this dissemination matters

This workshop underscores the added value of Countdown to 2030 as a bridge between scientific analysis and public policy. In the DRC, structured dissemination of evidence on immunization coverage directly supports reducing inequalities, improving resource allocation, and accelerating progress toward equitable health services for women, children, and adolescents.