Who are we

Our mission and values

Every child, every individual has the right to basic health care! – that's our mission. Our donations benefit all children in need, regardless of race, religion or background. Because everyone has the right to a better world, right? Thank you for helping us achieve this ultimate goal!

Afia Shuleni means “Health at School” in Swahili.

The goal of the organization Afia Shuleni is to provide preventive health care and health education to school-age children from the Democratic Republic of Congo, more specifically the province of South Kivu, to improve their physical and mental health.


In South Kivu there is a serious shortage of health care and prevention. After the postnatal period, the children are virtually no longer followed up medically. Afia Shuleni therefore wants to offer them a minimum of healthcare. After all, a child in good health will be able to complete his school career in better conditions. This will in turn offer him better prospects for the future.


In order to achieve its goal, the organization has launched 3 projects in collaboration with a Congolese doctor and the local authorities:


1. Medical School Supervision (Main Project):

    formation of local school doctors and nursesmedical consultations of the pupils of the 1st primary, 4th primary and the 1st secondary (full biometric and clinical examination) and follow-up in case problems are identified

2. Hygiene education and disease prevention (supporting the limited health policy at school)

3. Relational and Sexual Education in School


Our volunteers

The members of our organization are people who make their modest contribution to our society. Each member contributes to our organization with his or her unique skills and expertise.
Christine Derom (1955- † 2020)

After my studies in Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Ghent, I left for Congo (then Zaire) from 1978 to 1981 to work in the framework of Development Cooperation at the University of Kinshasa (Unaza). On my return to Belgium, I started a career in computer science and focused on raising my 4 sons. In 2005 I decide to make time to make it available to those who need it… family, friends or others. At the end of 2010 I meet my friend Michèle who proposes to me to join forces to start a Medical School Supervision project in South Kivu. I am very happy to be able to work for the well-being of the people of Congo, who have remained so dear to me. I found in this project the ideal challenge that corresponds to my conviction and my possibilities.

 

Dr. Cibanvunya Murhega Vincent


In 2000 I obtained my degree in medicine from the Université Catholique de Bukavu, South Kivu province, DR Congo. My professional activities in the period 2000-2010 :

§ in the position of director, I transformed the Center de Santé of Nyantende into Hôpital Général de Référence de Nyantende in accordance with the national strategy for primary health care in the DR Congo.

§ I actively cooperated with the authorities of Nyantende in the establishment of the health insurance for intervention in the care of the Hôpital Général de Référence de Nyantende. This should promote access to health care for the population.

§ For 3 years I have been an advisor to the provincial Minister of Health and Social Affairs at national and international organizations active in the field of health care in South Kivu.

In 2011 I started a training for specialization in general surgery, part of which in Belgium.

During this journey I met people and organizations with whom I was able to exchange experiences related to the health problems in the province of South Kivu.

My meeting with Dr. Michèle Van Staey, wife of a friend and partner of the Hôpital Général de Référence de Nyantende, has been the trigger for the expansion of the School Medicine project in South Kivu. I am the local medical partner of this project and coordinate the activities.


Dr. Michèle Van Staey

I obtained my degree in medicine in 1980 at the University of Ghent, was a scientific assistant for 10 years in the department of Medical Genetics, mainly worked as a general practitioner and in recent years in school medicine. When I was Dr. Vincent Cibanvunya, a Congolese doctor from South Kivu, and he told me how miserable life is there, partly due to a dire lack of basic health care, I felt that I could contribute to the well-being of the children in his area. Based on my experience, I took the initiative to start a Medical School Supervision (MST) project. Together with Christine Derom and Dr. Vincent Cibanvunya, we have developed this project into a valuable entity. My main task is to train local doctors so that they can continue their work autonomously. After 4 years I am proud of the achieved result. I hope that the local government will eventually introduce the MST in all schools in South Kivu.

 



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