For more than a decade, your unwavering support has empowered community health workers in the Kasai province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. During this time, these health care heroes have honed their skills, building on valuable experience and lessons learned along the way. They, because of you, have saved thousands and thousands of lives.
This is the impact you make possible.
NUTRITION
Community health workers have performed nearly 11.9 million malnutrition screenings for children five and under.
A health care worker, trained with your support, visits Tshituka Kalombo and her mother to assess for malnutrition
Going door to door, these health care heroes use a simple arm circumference test that indicates if children are in need of emergency care. Chronic malnutrition is a major source of stunting and developmental issues, so identifying these kids is essential for treating and preventing irreversible damage.
Health care workers visited families quarterly and coached them on the importance of nutrition. As a result, the rate of acute malnutrition — the most severe level — dropped from 10.8% to 3.3%.
When the trainings have been completed across Kasai, more than 14,000 community representatives will be armed with the knowledge and tools to combat malnutrition once and for all. You make this happen.
HEALTHIER MOTHERS AND NEWBORNS
429 health care providers trained in emergency obstetric care, promoting enhanced maternal care delivery.
Eugene Basa-Mbongo learned new skills during an emergency and obstetric training provided by your generosity.
Giving birth in the DRC is one of the most dangerous things a woman can do. The country is one of the worst for maternal and neonatal mortalities — the number of women and newborns that die during birth. That's why equipping health care workers is such a critical task.
With your support, health care providers and facilities are better able to confront the challenges. You have provided our health care heroes with training, equipping their maternity wards and implementing digital health solutions.
Before your intervention, postpartum hemorrhages accounted for 55% of maternal deaths. You assisted with safe blood availability for transfusions through support of transport materials and equipment, the repair of 17 blood bank refrigerators, and training health care providers on safe blood transfusions.
When Felly Ngalula gave birth to her son at only 28 weeks, midwife Therese Keza used the Safe Delivery App to ensure both mother and child would make it. They did.
For many pregnant women, access to health clinics is limited. The Safe Delivery App provides visual and instructional guidance on maternal and neonatal emergency care. For remote healthcare workers, the app is a lifeline to save lives when every minute counts. In areas where the app was rolled out, complication identification rates increased by 40%, and maternal deaths reduced by 25%.
The list goes on and on. Maternity wards are now supplied with essential medical tools to handle complications effectively. Midwives and community health workers received continuous training to identify and help with emergency and obstetrics care.
Between 2022 and 2024 alone, health zones empowered by your support reported a 30% decline in maternal deaths compared to non-intervention areas.
Because of you, health care heroes are stronger and more equipped to care for their community. They are saving lives, and so are you.