Promoting Health with Local Partners

Medical Needs on Idjwi Island

Idjwi Island is a peaceful yet impoverished island in the Democratic Republic of Congo. There is minimal access to health care on Idjwi, resulting in one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world. 1 in 6 children die before their first birthday.

Members of Mwendo Congo and Idjwi Islanders on the land

During her teen years, Dr. Edwige Mubonzi lived for a time on Idjwi Island. She was deeply moved by the malnutrition of children and the lack of health care she and her family witnessed. At age 14, she vowed to become a doctor to be able to help those on Idjwi Island. Her father, supporting her dream, gave her a small plot of land upon which to build the clinic.

Current island leaders, well-known to Dr. Mubonzi and her family, are committed to building a hospital with special programs for women and children. Mwendo Congo shares and supports this vision. Land for the hospital (a plot adjacent to Dr. Edwige's gifted plot) has been purchased with the support of Mwendo Congo, and cleared by the islanders.

Members of the Founders and Stakeholders whose donations enabled the purchase of land on idjwi for the hospital at a "Celebration of the land" dinner in January, 2016 — Members of the **Founders and Stakeholders** whose donations enabled the purchase of land on idjwi for the hospital at a "Celebration of the land" dinner in January, 2016

We are fortunate to partner with a team of highly skilled, strategic and compassionate leaders in the DRC through the Congolese non-profit organization called the Idjwi Initiative. Like Mwendo Congo, the Idjwi Initiative is a group of volunteers committed to using best organizational practices to realize their vision.

In October 2015, the Health Working Group of Mwendo Congo made a commitment to support the plan of our Congolese partners, Idjwi Initiative, to purchase a health water taxi. After twenty months of dedicated work by both organizations, along with Minnesotan and Congolese Rotary Clubs, the financing of this life-saving project was completed in June with a $31,500 grant from Mwendo Congo to Idjwi Initiative.