Fund Life Saving Maternal Care for Women in DRC

The team at Hope For Our Sisters Inc., in partnership with the team at the Wellness Clinic in Goma, DR Congo is pleased to bring you our latest impact report for our project to "Fund Life-Saving Maternal Care for Women in DRC". This Maternal Health Fund established at the Wellness Clinic with your investments provides life-saving prenatal and antenatal care to women who could not otherwise access a skilled, attended delivery. In instances where a cesarean birth is indicated for the safety of the mother and/or neonate, many of those in need would perish without the availability of free care that you make possible at the clinic - at other sites they are turned away because they cannot afford the procedure. The program's maintenance and efficacy would not be possible without each of you and your generosity.

The political strife in DR Congo is ongoing. The situation remains hostile, despite many attempts at peace talks, which continue to fail. Many thousands remain displaced, poverty is rampant, child labor is killing innocents forced to work in mines, and the crisis continues to render basic needs, like healthcare and food, unmet. 

Because of shortages abounding in communities and healthcare facilities alike, places like the Wellness Clinic, which can offer reduced or free maternal care, remain extremely busy. From January through April 2026, there were 840 deliveries, with 259 of those being cesarean deliveries. Additionally, 16 women elected to have tubal ligations, which is an important procedure in empowering families to have control over their fertility. Many of these women received their care in part or in full as beneficiaries of the Maternal Health Fund. So many lives have been touched by your choice to support the health, safety and wellbeing of these precious families. We are so incredibly grateful to all of you. 

One woman helped by the Maternal Health Fund is 17 year-old Elikia. She is from the working-class neighborhoods of Mugunga. Deceived and then abandoned by the man who had impregnated her, Elikia spent most of her pregnancy with fear and anxiety at the prospect of having to raise a child alone in a place as volatile as Goma currently is. Despite her heartache and her uncertainty for the future, she held onto the hope of giving birth safely.

Bravely, when her labor began, Elikia came to the Wellness Clinic with some of her relatives. Upon admission, the medical team immediately performed an obstetric examination. After evaluation, the doctor diagnosed a nuchal cord (the umbilical cord wrapped around the fetus' neck) associated with fetal distress. Faced with this obstetric emergency, a swift decision was made: to perform a cesarean delivery to save both mother and child. Thanks to the responsiveness of the medical staff, the procedure was successful, marked by the beautiful sound of a newborn's first cry.

Today, she and her baby are doing well. The team reported to us: "She expresses her profound gratitude to God and the entire medical team for the care, attention, and support she received during this difficult time. Her story reminds us that behind every birth often lies a silent struggle, but also of the importance of dedicated healthcare professionals in preserving the lives of mothers and their children."

We are committed to bringing you updates on your impact in this project every four months. As always, we welcome your feedback or suggestions to Cara, one of our Board members, at cbrooks@hopeforoursisters.org. For more regular updates on all of our programs, please visit our website and sign up for our Constant Contact updates 1-2 times per month, or follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn (Hope For Our Sisters, Inc.) and Instagram (@brookehfos).

We cannot thank you enough for your continued support of this Maternal Health Fund, for your incredible generosity towards this cause, for the Wellness Clinic, and for the strong and resilient families of Goma. 

With Hope,

Cara Brooks

Links:

• HFOS Homepage