Dr. Celestine Buyibuyi’s life has been shaped by armed conflict. Born and raised amidst war, her experience echoes that of millions in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A doctor driven to ease the suffering of war-displaced people, she works with Ipas and partners to fill a critical and unmet need: sexual and reproductive health care that includes abortion.
Journey to the camps: Hope amidst struggle
“I was born in a war season and grew up in a war season,” Buyibuyi shares. Her heart-wrenching story is all too familiar for millions of people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in her generation.
For over thirty years, the resource-rich Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been plagued by conflict, and now it’s grappling with rebel attacks. Recently, intense fighting between the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and the M23 rebel group in North Kivu province has forced thousands of civilians to flee their homes. Since January 2024, the violence has claimed countless lives and displaced thousands of people. The DRC is enduring the second largest internally displaced people’s crisis in the world—with no end clearly in sight.
As a doctor serving as Ipas’s community engagement advisor in East DRC, Buyibuyi says her motivation for doing what she does is simple: “When I see a woman suffering, I see myself suffering.”
Watch PART 1 of Working for reproductive justice: A day in the life working in DRC refugee camps
Lifelines for displaced populations: Mobile clinics
In North Kivu Province where Dr. Buyibuyi works, over 1.2 million people have fled their homes since March 2022 due to ongoing clashes. The camps in this region are crowded with thousands enduring harsh conditions, and gender-based violence is an everyday occurrence. Despite the challenging environment, Ipas DRC has established mobile clinics within many of these camps to provide essential sexual and reproductive health services.
Humanitarian efforts often fall short, neglecting sexual and reproductive health needs. That’s why Ipas DRC’s mobile clinics serve as lifelines for women and girls in the camps, many of whom are survivors of gender-based violence. These clinics help provide them with contraception, abortion services, treatment for sexually transmitted infections and even counseling.
Watch PART 2 of Working for reproductive justice: A day in the life working in DRC refugee camps
Empathy and empowered youth = effective outreach
Born in eastern DRC, Dr. Buyibuyi resides in Goma, a city known for its beautiful weather and resilient people. As a dedicated outreach advisor, she makes connections in the community, which includes camps and mobile clinics, while also training and supporting health providers. Dr. Buyibuyi’s empathy-driven approach builds trust with those she serves as she raises awareness of sexual and reproductive health services in the camps. She also collaborates on outreach with Ipas’s youth-led partner, Mashujaa Network of Youth Alliance for Reproductive Health (YARH), which she co-founded before joining Ipas.
With a median age of 17 and 45% of the population under 14, DRC’s young demographics make the youth-led Mashujaa Network particularly effective. Their outreach efforts help bridge the gap between clients and mobile clinics, ensuring displaced women and girls can access critical services like contraception, abortion, and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. They also provide essential follow-up care, connecting individuals to medical and mental health resources for ongoing support.
Watch PART 3 of Working for reproductive justice: A day in the life working in DRC refugee camps
Ipas DRC’s ongoing mission
Partnering with local entities and the government, mobile clinics established by Ipas DRC serve as one-stop health centers with vital reproductive health care that eases suffering and saves lives. Ipas DRC also donates abortion medications and equipment, trains health workers in abortion care, and educates pharmacists on safely dispensing abortion pills, ensuring comprehensive support for displaced people.
Read below about Ipas DRC’s mobile health clinics, referral networks and youth-led outreach efforts in Kanyaruchina and Bulengo camps.
Democratic Republic of Congo
Bringing vital health care directly to displaced populations, Ipas continues working to foster hope and resilience in communities affected by ongoing conflict.
