The Esther Fund is a U.S.-based nonprofit that raises money to support the Esther Projects in Sankuru Province, Democratic Republic of Congo. Our work is designed to operate within the existing healthcare system, creating a clear and scalable pathway to reach children across the province with both preventive and life-saving care.
Esther Prevention
Esther Prevention is focused on keeping children healthy through simple, proven interventions that address the most common causes of child mortality.
- Insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent malaria
- Albendazole (deworming treatment)
- Vitamin A supplementation
- Vaccinations
- Other essential child health services
These interventions are low-cost but highly effective. By preventing disease before it begins, they reduce the need for more complex and costly treatment.
The Esther Projects
The Esther Projects consist of two integrated programs: Esther Prevention and Esther Care. Together, these programs are designed to ensure that children remain healthy through prevention and receive effective treatment when they become sick.
Esther Care
Esther Care is focused on treating sick children when prevention is not enough.
- Community-level diagnosis and treatment
- Referral to hospitals for severe illness
- Support for life-saving medical interventions
The Esther Care project ensures that children who become sick can receive timely and effective care, even in a region where access to healthcare is extremely limited.
Healthcare System in Sankuru
Sankuru Province is organized into 16 Health Zones, each with a referral hospital and a Health Zone administrative office. Each Health Zone is made up of an average of 16 Health Areas, with a total of 248 Health Areas across the province. Within each Health Area, a primary health center provides preventive services and first-line medical care for children. This structure allows the Esther Projects to scale systematically—ensuring that every child can be reached with preventive and life-saving care.
Scale and Vision
Sankuru Province has approximately 120,000 babies born each year. The goal of the Esther Projects is to reach every child across all 248 health areas. This means:
- Every child receives preventive care
- Every sick child receives treatment
By working within the existing healthcare system and focusing on scalable, high-impact interventions, the Esther Projects are designed to transform child health across the entire province.
Why This Approach Works
This approach is effective because it is:
- Simple – Focused on proven, high-impact interventions
- Scalable – Built to reach all 248 health areas
- Integrated – Works within the existing healthcare system
- Sustainable – Strengthens local capacity and leadership
- Accountable – Guided by data and regular evaluation