Kinshasa, June 18th, 2026 (CPA).- The mobilization of local funding to support the fight against sickle cell disease was called for on Thursday in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), by a non-profit organization during a press conference organized ahead of World Sickle Cell Day, observed annually on June 19th. “With regard to the fight against sickle cell disease, SANRU ASBL is implementing the integration of this condition into the healthcare package through health zones. To achieve this, there is already a cohort of screened children who require medication. In a context of limited funding, SANRU is taking advantage of World Sickle Cell Day to advocate for the mobilization of local resources beyond the usual sources of financing,” said Pitshou Lukisa, Coordinator of the Drep.Acci Project. “The fundraising campaign aims to purchase medicines for children living with sickle cell disease who are monitored in the three pilot health zones, covering 44 healthcare facilities located in Selembao Health Zone in Kinshasa, Djulu Health Zone in Mbuji-Mayi, and Ibanda Health Zone in Bukavu,” he added. He stressed, however, that “our message today is to invite everyone to become involved in the fight against sickle cell disease in order to restore hope and smiles to every child affected by the disease.”
SANRU ASBL’s achievements in the DRC
Meanwhile, Patrick Bukasa, Head of Communication at SANRU DRC (Primary Health Care in Rural Areas), explained that the organization’s interventions focus on strengthening the country’s health system. These efforts include the construction and rehabilitation of numerous health facilities and health centers across the country, improving access to medical oxygen and enhancing emergency care through the installation of nine medical oxygen production plants in the DRC. In terms of response and prevention, the organization provides significant support to the Ministry of Health in combating COVID-19 and Ebola. It also coordinates primary healthcare interventions against malaria, HIV and tuberculosis while promoting community engagement through the integration of community health workers and the expansion of family planning services. On the same occasion, he called on media professionals to serve as reliable and responsible relays of health information in order to disseminate accurate information and contribute to the fight against diseases.