Thanks to your faithful support, malnutrition ministry in DR Congo continues to grow—moving from emergency treatment of the sickest children to community-based prevention programs led by Congolese healthcare professionals. At the Karawa Stabilization Center, your generosity has helped reduce mortality for children with severe acute malnutrition from 18–20% to just 7% in 2024. This is a remarkable improvement, especially compared to higher mortality rates at other centers—46% at Loko and 26% at Bogose Nubea. We praise God for this progress and the dedicated team making it possible.
However, challenges remain. Staff report that parents often go hungry while staying with their children during treatment, and a poor harvest season has led to overcrowding, with multiple children sharing beds. Plans are underway to expand the Karawa center to meet growing needs. Training efforts are also advancing. Dr. Marius, the CEUM’s Director of Training, is leading targeted education for health centers that refer the most malnutrition cases, and PCP is committed to supporting the return of village-level education, which was paused due to limited funding.
During the Medical Ambassadors’ recent trip to DR Congo,Dr. Jim Thomas, Dr. Eric Gunnoe, and Dr. Kelley Shultz collaborated on-site with providers, observing operations, and supporting strategies to prevent malnutrition before it becomes severe. The team was also encouraged by the news that Karawa nutritionists have begun conducting training among CEUM churches.
A major step forward is the new stabilization center at Loko, now fully equipped and ready to begin receiving patients. Staff have been trained, covering Loko Hospital and 15 surrounding health centers. With your continued support, this center will bring life-saving care to a region in urgent need.
