Improve Maternal, Infant, and Child Outcomes
In the DRC, 1 of every 212 births results in a motherless child.
9% of children don’t reach their 5th birthday.
Most of this stems from preventable diseases and complications that could be avoided with early detection.
Dr. Johny Muhindo treats a young patient. Photo: Gerry Kahashy 
A young patient enters an Asili clinic. Photo: Brent Hines 
Children learn about handwashing.
Photo: Gerry Kahashy
Since our founding, ECI has focused on the health of mothers and their children through partnerships with Heal Africa, Panzi Hospital, community cooperatives, and now our Asili health clinics and community education.
Story Highlight: From 45 to 0
One of ECI’s earliest partners, Program of Primary Healthcare (PSSP), supports efforts to reduce maternal, newborn, and child mortality rates in the Kamango region of North Kivu province.
We partnered with PSSP and Theo Chocolate to launch a Maternal Mortality Reduction program in Watalinga. This started with educating women in cocoa-farming communities about the benefits of regular pre- and post-natal check ups, and of giving birth in a hospital.
As PPSSP Director Micheline Sikuli explained, “With ECI we have worked closely with traditional birth attendants who now participate actively in all aspects of our project; from defining the problem to evaluating the results.”
After less than one year of working in six of the 13 health zones, PPSSP contributed to the elimination of maternal and newborn deaths in these health zones, bringing the figure from 45 maternal and childhood deaths to zero.
Mastaki, one of the women who has been able to benefit from the project, was no longer able to give birth following multiple complications from childbirth, including fistula. With this program, she finally received the medical assistance she needed to heal. Today, Mastaki is a leader in her community, informing others of the importance of maternal and post-natal health practices in her village Kikingi:
“I used to be looked down upon by my family because of my health issues. Today I am known in my village and people count on me. I am feeling part of a community again.”
Shop Other Gifts
All donations to ECI are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Tax ID number: 45-4103655. All donations will be used for the most urgent needs of ECI, Asili, and the communities we serve.