We live and work in the community’s first mile.
WA-Kongo 1er Kilometre Sante’s environmental health team.
Our Beginning
Drs. Ali N’Simbo and Lucy Doyle met while working together in a cholera outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. They decided, after years of combined work for international humanitarian organizations, to return to DRC together to make a positive impact with a novel community-centered approach to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
“We are the people who can change this situation, today, as a community. And I believe it is possible. To do something to give our children the chance to not have to see all of this.”
— Dr. ali n’simbo, FOUNDER
As medical doctors, our plan was to start a medical service. However we conducted a community-led survey in Bukavu, a city of 1 million people in Eastern DRC, and found that what people want even more than access to better quality health care, is better sanitation services. We listened, and we are implementing integrated public health and medical services in Bukavu.
WA-Kongo team carrying public garbage bins to place on the street.
Our Mission
Our mission is to collaborate towards realization of community aspirations for health and access to high quality emergency and preventative health services in the Democratic Republic of Congo and internationally. Central to our activities is an innovative first mile model, by which communities inform, design, and govern health programs that serve them.
5.4 million excess deaths
in DRC due to war.
45%
of doctors are unemployed.
8 of top 10
causes of death in DRC are preventable.
By addressing the upstream public health issues and providing medical services with an integrated approach, we hope to improve the health of communities in DRC and beyond.
View of Bukavu, in South Kivu, DRC.
Donate
We are soliciting donations, medical equipment, and sanitation equipment.