Protecting & promoting women’s holistic health in Kisangani, DRC.

The Ida Lee Project (ILP) provides reproductive health education, screenings, and treatment for women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo facing extremely limited access to medical services.

Founded in 2017 in Kisangani, the Ida Lee Project (ILP) began in response to a local epidemic of women’s reproductive cancers due, in part, to a lack of regional medical infrastructure, services, or preventative care.

Today, despite ongoing regional conflicts and a deteriorating national healthcare system, the ILP continues to offer reproductive health education, preventative care, and free-of-charge cervical and breast cancer treatment for women in need of urgent medical services in Kisangani or within our network of care partners across the DRC and Uganda. Our mission is to bring holistic, contemporary, dignified medical care and health education to Kisangani led by Congolese practitioners.

Our mission is threefold:

  1. Support women and children across the DRC with necessary medical care to alleviate suffering.

  2. Empower women with the tools and resources they need for health and well-being.

  3. Bring holistic, contemporary, and dignified medical care to Kisangani led by Congolese practitioners.

Medical Screenings & Treatment

The ILP facilitates free-of-charge cervical and breast cancer screenings, mastectomies, hysterectomies, chemotherapy, fistula repair, palliative care, and beyond.

Empowering Women & Girls

The ILP runs community-led health education programs including campaigns dedicated to HPV vaccination, period poverty, and annual preventative cancer screenings.

Local Doctors & Practicioners

The ILP is dedicated to supporting local healthcare workers in the DRC through staffing, training, and regional professional development opportunities.

“Eastern DRC has become one of the most dangerous places in the world for women and children.”

— Sidibe Kadidia, CARE International DRC Country Director

Data on women's health in the DRC is often limited and fragmented due to numerous factors including inadequate healthcare infrastructure, underreporting, and challenges in data collection. However, available data indicates significant and ongoing health disparities faced by women including:

  • Cervical Cancer

    Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in the DRC. Limited access to screening and treatment services, as well as a lack of awareness about the importance of cervical cancer prevention, contribute to high mortality rates.

  • Maternal Health

    Maternal mortality remains high in the DRC, with estimates indicating a maternal mortality ratio of 693 deaths per 100,000 live births as of 2017. Factors contributing to maternal mortality include limited access to skilled birth attendants, inadequate healthcare facilities, and delays in seeking care.

  • Reproductive Health

    Reproductive health challenges persist, including high fertility rates, limited access to contraception and family planning services, and a high prevalence of teenage pregnancies. Access to maternal and reproductive healthcare services, including antenatal care and postpartum care, remains inadequate in many regions.

  • Infectious Diseases

    Women in the DRC are disproportionately affected by infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. Limited access to healthcare services, as well as social and economic factors, contribute to the burden of these diseases among women.

  • Gender-Based Violence

    Gender-based violence, including sexual violence and domestic abuse, is widespread in the DRC and has significant health consequences for women. Survivors often face barriers to accessing healthcare services and support.

Learn more about Kisangani, the DRC, where we work, and why.

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