As midwives, community health volunteers, intercultural mediators and in other roles, women provide comfort and confidential advice, sometimes in the privacy of their own homes. They refer women to appropriate services or directly participate themselves in providing contraceptive care, pregnancy and postnatal care, sexual violence care and safe abortion care, and mental health support.
They play a vital role by raising awareness about women’s health issues, enhancing community engagement and reducing stigma. They can also support women with the knowledge and skills to manage parts of their own healthcare through self-care, enabling them to care for themselves and others.
"I am a displaced person… I’m also a health volunteer."
Among the many people displaced due to surging conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, community healthcare volunteers like Henriette Mbitse are helping increase survivors’ safe and confidential access to care in Doctors Without Borders' sexual violence care program in Kanyaruchinya. Maman Henriette, as she’s affectionately called, was a health volunteer in her home village before fleeing with her family. Clara* too fled to Kanyaruchinya, from Rutshuru territory, with eight children in her care. She was raped when she went to collect wood in the forest to sell as firewood. "I thank the health volunteer who brought me here because if she didn’t, I could die."
