For five long years for Marie Otshumba and seven years for Aimérance Yema, the dream of motherhood turned into a repeated cycle of grief and despair.
Like many women in the Democratic Republic of Congo, they went through the devastating ordeal of infertility and repeated miscarriages, accompanied by shaken faith and social status.
Beyond the physical pain, these childless years exposed the women to intense social pressure and emotional trauma, undermining their status within their own homes.
Today, thanks to rigorous monitoring at the Lokole United Methodist Health Center as part of The United Methodist Church’s Maternal, Newborn and Child Health program, their tears have turned to joy.
“Each loss was an immense pain that shook my confidence,” Otshumba confides. “I was beginning to lose hope.”
The program, supported by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, combines clinical care, health education and family support to ensure a continuum of care from pregnancy through the early years of a child’s life. By supporting initiatives such as the treatment of acute malnutrition and the monitoring of pregnant women through community messaging systems, the program demonstrates the church’s commitment to combining the proclamation of the Gospel with the practical promotion of the dignity and health of every mother and child.
Board Funded Facilities Increase Birth Rate
In Congo, pregnancy-related complications remain a major public health challenge. The lack of medical monitoring, combined with undetected nutritional and physiological factors, often leads to preventable tragedies. This is where United Methodist health facilities are stepping in to make a difference.
Through the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health program, Otshumba and Yema discovered the importance of prenatal consultations, leading them to become patient partners.
The staff at Lokole United Methodist Health Center, aware of the women’s family difficulties and discouragement, took the initiative to approach them. Sensitized by word of mouth and encouraged by the maternity ward manager, Otshumba and Yema agreed to follow the program.
Dr. Marie-Claire Manafundu Diandja, the program’s coordinator within the East Congo Health Department, said that the initiative aims to reduce preventable maternal and child mortality by strengthening local health systems.
Success Through the Pain
The program at the medical facility paid off in 2025. Under the supervision of midwives and doctors who anticipated the risks, Otshumba carried her pregnancy to term, giving birth to Amisi, who is now 5 months old and in perfect health.
Reflecting on what she’s been through, Otshumba becomes emotional. “I spent many years in my marriage, but every time I got pregnant, it ended in miscarriage. Sometimes I gave birth, but the children died. But since I’ve been under the care of doctors, I conceived my son Amisi.”
For her, this victory is both personal and social.
“I have regained my joy and self-confidence,” she says. “My husband and family, who had been sad for so long, have found happiness and stability again.”
Yema shares this feeling of rebirth. After seven years of waiting, she is now experiencing something she no longer dared to hope for.
“I spent seven years in my marriage without getting pregnant. Since I have been receiving care at the Lokole Methodist Hospital Center, I have received good treatment that has allowed me to become pregnant again. My son is developing well, and I know he will be born without any problems.”
“With adequate access to health care and compassionate support, pain can be transformed into victory,” Manafundu said. “The stories of these two women show that we can bring back smiles where there were tears.”
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excerpt from a story by Chadrack Tambwe Londe is a UM News correspondent in Congo.
This story shows the impact of the World Service Fund—one of seven apportionment funds of The United Methodist Church—to connect our hearts and resources in mission around the world. Through this fund, the Church supports global ministries, discipleship, evangelism, education, and social justice work that transform lives and communities. Together, we share the love of Christ across boundaries and bring hope where it’s needed most.
When your church contributes faithfully to the World Service Fund, you help the whole Church live out God’s mission in every place.
