Lifesaving Cancer Screenings for Congolese Women

Impact Report: Santé Pour Les Femmes Campaign in Goma, DRC

With your support, the Ida Lee Project (ILP) successfully concluded its “Santé Pour Les Femmes” (Health for Women) campaign in collaboration with World Hope Givers last fall in the IDP (internally displaced peoples) camps near Goma, North Kivu, DRC.

Over the span of October and November, the ILP team worked tirelessly to offer essential healthcare services to internally displaced women, with a focus on cancer screenings, reproductive health, and psychological support for survivors of sexual violence.

Campaign Highlights:

• 534 women served through consultations, screenings, and preventive healthcare.
• 132 health exams and cancer screenings were conducted, identifying urgent health issues and enabling early interventions.
• 3 urgent surgeries were performed, including the successful removal of a cancerous breast mass, providing lifesaving care for women in desperate need.
• Over 50% of the women examined reported experiences of sexual violence, with many benefiting from professional psychological support through our partnership with World Hope Givers.

On-the-Ground Impact: The campaign was not only about providing medical care, but also about offering dignity and empowerment to the women we served. Many of the women we met had endured severe trauma, with numerous cases of sexual assault and violence. As we set up our mobile clinics in tents, we provided not only medical assistance but also emotional support in tandem with training professionals from World Hope Givers.

Women were offered cancer screenings (primarily breast and cervical cancers), fistula care, mastectomies, and hysterectomies, addressing their most urgent health needs in some of the most dire circumstances.

In addition, we launched the ingenious “Soap and a Spritz” initiative, dreamt up by ILP founder, Ravonna, where women could select soaps and perfumes, and provide a meaningful moment of personal care, connection, and joy amidst their difficult circumstances.

Throughout the trip, the health team braved numerous logistical challenges, from navigating remote areas to coordinating transportation for surgeries at local hospitals. However, thanks to our dedicated staff and local partnerships, including coordination with Kyeshero hospital for surgeries, we were able to deliver the necessary care to those in urgent need.

"At the camp. Words are useless to describe. We were given a tent— it is hot — and people found chairs and tables and 2 exam tables so we could do exams. Almost every one of the women seen by Dr. Bafoa and I today had been raped. I have never experienced anything like this nor ever really believed it could be real. The DRC is the rape capital of the world.One woman, as Arlette was taking her history, began to weep and hold her head in her hands. The memory of her experience and the physical violation that had been enacted upon her was as alive in her this afternoon as it was the day it occurred.She went through 4 surgeries to correct 2 fistulas caused by the rape. You very seldom witness the kind of grief that can cause the observer to be chilled to the bone.” - Ravonna Martin, ILP founder

Collaborations and Future Plans: The ILP is proud of the collaborative efforts that made this campaign possible, especially the tremendous support from World Hope Givers. We also forged new partnerships during this campaign, including with Gratias Kibanja and members of her organization, Women in Action for Human Dignity-WAHDi asbl, as well as the Belgian branch of Doctors Without Borders (MSF), who is committed to work alongside us in 2025 to expand access to cancer screenings and treatments for more women in the IDP camps.

Looking ahead, our goal for 2025 is ambitious but achievable: to support even more women in the DRC with reproductive cancer screenings and treatments.

Where so few resources or organizations remain, the efforts of the Ida Lee Project are truly essential in addressing the healthcare gap for women in DRC conflict zones, and your donations make this possible. We are committed to continuing our work to bring healthcare and dignity to the women of the DRC. With your donation, we can reach more women with life-saving screenings and treatment.

A Heartfelt Thank You: We are deeply grateful to everyone who has supported our efforts—whether through donations, volunteer work, or spreading the word about our impact work. Your support has helped us make a tangible difference in the lives of hundreds of women who have been able to essential health services and the hope for healthier futures.

As we move forward, the Ida Lee Project remains committed to advancing women’s health in the DRC. We look forward to sharing more stories, challenges, and successes in the months to come.

Links:

• Instagram post about our Goma campaign - 1
• Instagram post about our Goma campaign - 2
• Instagram post about our Goma campaign - 3