BRINGING MATERNAL CARE CLOSER TO WOMEN IN KINSHASA’S POOR URBAN DISTRICTS

Kinshasa, one of Africa’s fastest growing megacities in one of the world’s poorest countries, has sprawling slums in which many inhabitants – many of whom live on $2 a day – lack access to quality health care. The WHO estimates that up to 60% of the Congolese population has no access to state health services free of charge or affordable private ones. This has pernicious effects on the health of the population, including the urban poor and in particular pregnant women and babies.

At Mothers at Risk we have partnered with the local organization Lisungi, a relatively young NGO and one of the few who focus their services on addressing urban health inequities. We are supporting the efforts of Lisungi to operate a mobile clinic serving the hard-to-reach urban and peri-urban districts of Ngaba, Makala, Matete, Kinsensu and Masina. The clinic provides prenatal, newborn and postpartum care and timely referrals in case of complications, as well as awareness-raising sessions on sexual and infectious diseases, contraception and family planning. The team has also been promoting Covid-prevention measures.

The mobile team consists of professional medical staff, including a medical doctor and a nurse-midwife. MAR and Lisungi are working closely to further professionalize the provision of maternal health services by the clinic.

Luzeyi Kuelusukina, Lisungi Founder, on our partnership:

“We thank you very much for making possible the launch of our mobile clinic. Cooperation with Mothers at Risk is very important to us in order to be able to take care of the mothers and pregnant women”