5.3. Health and health services 5.3.1. Health policies and action plans The right to life (art. 7) and the responsibility of the state as a "guarantor of public health" (Article 30) are recognised by the Constitution. As headquarters of the WHO Regional Office for Africa, Congo is at the forefront of subscribing to major international declarations and actions relating to health in Africa. Law No. 014-92 of 29 April 1992 on the institutionalisation of the National Health Development Programme (NHDP) evidences the interest of the Congolese authorities in this vital sector. The application of this law was first illustrated through the implementation of a first PNDS 1992-1996, which allowed a number of achievements that have significantly changed the health landscape of Congo. These are essentially: (i) cutting the country in health and social divisions; (ii) the establishment, by Decree No. 95-3 of 4 January 1995, of a PNDS Monitoring Technical Committee (STC / PNDS), developing a participatory and inter sectoral approach in the analysis of health issues, the definition of strategies and monitoring of the implementation; (iii) the rationalisation of the organisation and operation of integrated health centres; (iv) the involvement of communities in the planning and implementation of health zone activities; (v) the training of staff, including doctors. These achievements have led to the adoption in May 2000 of a National Health Policy with the overall objective of improving the health status of populations to promote their participation in socio-economic development of the country through the promotion and protection of the health of individuals and communities throughout the country; improving the population's access to services and quality of health care; and strengthening national management capacity of the health system. The second National Health Development Program, which was implemented between 2005 and 2009, was an outcome of the National Health Policy. It was based on four cardinal foundations namely: (i) the right to health of all Congolese; (ii) equity in access to health care provision and quality of services; (iii) the solidarity of the entire Congolese nation in the face of illness and health; (Iv) the democratic exercise of the right to health: the individual has to be an actor and recipient of health development. The PNDS 2005-2009 priority actions were essentially: • The division into health district; • Decentralisation of the health system and strengthening of health and social constituencies (CSS); • Strengthening programmes against diseases and health promotion; • The development of human resources through initial and ongoing staff training; • Reform of the drug policy by establishing an efficient instrument for the supply and distribution of essential generic drugs as well as for the promotion and rational use of medicines; 61