The health and well-being of women of reproductive age are central to sexual and reproductive health concerns in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), especially in the South Ubangi province. Despite the 2018 ratification of the Maputo Protocol, which advocates for comprehensive abortion care centered on women (SCACF), its implementation remains limited, contributing to high maternal morbidity and mortality rates. The World Health Organization estimates that over 200,000 women die annually in developing countries due to unsafe abortions, a particularly severe issue in areas like Gemena, where maternal deaths, especially among adolescents, are frequent. The high mortality is partly due to social stigma, which views abortion as a criminal act, preventing access to appropriate healthcare services. A study conducted in the Kivu health area revealed significant gaps in the implementation of the Maputo Protocol. Of 21 healthcare providers surveyed, only 2 (9.1%) had received SCACF training, far below WHO standards. Additionally, the necessary infrastructure and equipment to provide quality care were lacking. The study shows that the Maputo Protocol is largely non-functional in the Kivu health area and throughout the Gemena health zone. To address these issues, it is crucial for health sector actors, particularly the government, to ensure the proper application of the protocol. This would not only improve women's health but also contribute to the overall development of the province and the country.

Human reproduction remains the key to offspring and the sustainability of the human species. While becoming pregnant is seen as a happy event, several corollaries accompany its evolution, development and outcome. The involvement of the male partner from conception to childbirth remains a source of joy and fulfillment for the pregnant woman, for the product of conception, for the family and for society. The observation remains bitter in the province of Sud Ubangi in particular and in the Salongo II health area in the ZSUR of Gemena. Barely 7% of married men accompany their female partners to CPN sessions even if the importance of supporting the latter is no longer in doubt. Lack of interest and low income are the factors behind this low involvement. Increasing awareness among men and providing decent wages would be ideal solutions to resolve this thorny issue that impacts on sexual and reproductive health as well as the health of the population in general.