This transformation symbolizes a major step in the organization's journey, which has been active for the past five years primarily in the fields of education and health. According to an official press release, "LONA" in Lingala means "to sow." This choice perfectly reflects the Foundation's mission: to sow excellence, education, health, and hope to build a fairer, stronger, and forward-looking Congo.

Health, the foundation of a fair society

This vision is consistent with that of President Félix Tshisekedi, driven by his ambitious Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program, and is reflected in the First Lady's strong commitment. Since its creation, the LONA Foundation has established itself as a key player in public health in the DRC, placing women and children at the heart of its priorities.

Maternal and child health is the Foundation's primary focus. In a country where maternal and neonatal mortality rates remain worrying, the Foundation acts as a catalyst for change. Raising community awareness, strengthening healthcare facilities, supporting maternity wards and midwives, and supporting local initiatives are all concrete actions to bring women and newborns closer to a safe, high-quality healthcare pathway.

 The First Lady thus places her action in a logic complementary to that of the

Head of State: building a resilient health system

The approach is comprehensive: encouraging prenatal consultations, promoting childbirth assisted by qualified personnel, ensuring appropriate postnatal care, and improving infant nutrition. Each step represents an essential building block in building a healthier future. As the First Lady likes to remind us, "no mother should die giving birth." This phrase, which has become a veritable credo, illustrates the desire to transform motherhood into a moment of joy, not tragedy.

▲ The First Lady cutting the symbolic ribbon at the inauguration of the Mabanga Center

Behind every successful birth and every life saved lies a silent but decisive victory for the Congolese nation. Through its work, the LONA Foundation does more than support women and children: it embodies a vision of a DRC where health is the first pillar of development.

Concrete initiatives for a lasting impact

Faced with numerous challenges—high maternal mortality, difficult access to healthcare, and precarious infrastructure—the LONA Foundation acts as a local partner. Vaccination campaigns, nutrition and hygiene awareness programs, distribution of medical kits, and support for local healthcare facilities—each initiative helps bring healthcare closer to the people.

Beyond prevention and basic care, Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi has made sickle cell disease a personal battle. This genetic disease, still too little known, affects Congolese youth: nearly 2% of newborns carry the severe form, and more than a third of the population carries the gene. The consequences are dramatic: chronic pain, severe anemia,

Repeated hospitalizations, school absenteeism, and an increased risk of early death. The LONA Foundation is working on all fronts: free community screenings, distribution of essential medications to relieve crises, specialized training for medical personnel, and international advocacy to attract the attention of donors and decision-makers.

A powerful symbol of this commitment is the renovation and inauguration, in March 2024, of the Mabanga Center in Kinshasa, the only public facility dedicated to the treatment of sickle cell disease in the DRC. Patients benefit from a modern environment and integrated care, ranging from medical monitoring to nutritional and psychosocial advice.

This initiative doesn't just provide care: it restores hope. It shows that with political will, community engagement, and strong partnerships, it is possible to transform the lives of sickle cell patients. For Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, sickle cell disease must no longer be an inevitability but a collective struggle.

Concrete initiatives for a lasting impact

Through this mobilization, the First Lady not only wants to save lives, but also to change the way people view this disease. Fighting sickle cell disease means breaking the isolation of patients, giving families a voice, and affirming that every Congolese child has the right to a healthy future. Thus, the LONA Foundation's action is part of a logic that complements that of the Head of State: building a resilient health system, where every Congolese, regardless of their social background, can access quality care. This is a shared ambition that makes health not a favor, but a fundamental right and a pillar of social justice in the DRC.