MASANGA CENTER FOUNDATION

Masanga Center Foundation

A Mother's Fight Against Sickle Cell Disease

About us

Masanga Center Foundation is an organization that promotes the wellbeing of people living with Sickle Cell Disease and their families in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). At the Masanga Center, we help each other spiritually and emotionally through our community support groups. We offer health education programs, counseling, doctor consultations, food, and nutrition supplements. Our trained support staff teaches classes that help people better manage their Sickle Cell Disease symptoms and complications. Our goal is to help reduce the number of babies born with Sickle Cell by bringing awareness and encouraging screening for the Sickle Cell Trait and Sickle Cell Disease.

Our doors are always open. The Masanga Center is a place that welcomes all people with love and respect

MEET OUR TEAM

Our Founder

I am Kiminu Bijou Goodson. I was born in Boma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). I have been living in the United State for more than 20 years. I am married and have one child.

In 1998 my daughter Masanga was diagnose with sickle cell Disease. Since her diagnosis, I have committed a lifetime researching and learning as much as possible about sickle disease to better care for her and inform others. My daughter is living a full and productive adulthood and studying to become a medical doctor despite her condition. She is always surrounded by family and friends who love and care for her. However, the same cannot be said about most people living with sickle cell disease in the Congo (RDC).

In the Congo (DRC), having the sickle cell disease is like having a ‘curse’. People with sickle cell disease are socially stigmatized and neglected. Many parents abandoned their children due to sickle cell disease and many marriages fall a part due to the financial difficulties of caring for a child with sickle cell. Many children with sickle cell disease do not receive an education because there is a misconception that they will have a short life expectancy. This is a serious problem given the fact that approximately 50,000 babies are born each year in DRC with sickle cell disease. We are working to change all this.

As a mom, I know first-hand the challenges of living with sickle cell. My goal is to help as many people as possible in Congo (RDC) flourish like my daughter despite living with sickle cell disease. I would like to change the misconceptions about sickle cell by raising awareness about sickle cell and bringing relief and comfort to families directly affected by the disease.