When armed conflict forced 800,000 people to flee their homes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s North Kivu province, suddenly accessing hospitals or other medical infrastructure became much harder. That’s why UNFPA set up a mobile clinic to meet the sexual and reproductive health needs of displaced women and girls.

Tantine was one of an estimated 4,500 pregnant women living in a cramped, unsanitary refugee camp. She traveled over four kilometers by motorbike to reach the nearest local health center for a prenatal check-up — only to be sent back without being seen.

But her luck took a turn for the better when another woman told her about a UNFPA mobile clinic operating in the camp.

“I was in pain and went to the mobile clinic. I was greeted by two ladies who consulted me very quickly,” Tantine recalled.

The medical team put Tantine on a drip, and within half an hour, she was on her way to the health center, accompanied by a midwife from the mobile clinic. She was immediately taken into care and gave birth later that day — a complicated delivery made possible thanks to the quick actions of the UNFPA-supported midwives.

“The mobile clinic is important and necessary for us. It helps displaced pregnant women who have no resources. I benefited from free care at the clinic before my medical evacuation,” Tantine told us.

UNFPA continues to assist people across the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is expanding its programs to ensure access to free and quality services for all women and girls in need in the coming months. But we know there are a lot of different opinions out there, so we want to hear from you:

Do you think UNFPA should expand mobile health clinics — in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and around the world?

The five staff at the mobile clinic UNFPA set up this year — including three trained midwives — have treated an average of three pregnant women daily. So far, the team has performed over 20 deliveries on site and referred nearly 100 women to the local health center. More than 200 women received prenatal consultations, and 55 survivors of gender-based violence sought medical care and advice from the clinic.

This is the type of care you’re delivering when you make a gift to support women and girls. So as one of our top supporters, please let us know if you think UNFPA should expand mobile health clinics.

Thank you for your response,

— USA for UNFPA