KnowTheGlow recently had the privilege of meeting with Dr. Yves Kyembwa of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The conversation brought together Megan Webber, Co-founder of KnowTheGlow, Helene Dameris, Director of Global Outreach, Ruth Ngaruiya, Programs Manager, and Pemije Gadimoh, Global Student Volunteer. Through the discussion, Dr. Kyembwa shared the realities of pediatric eye care in eastern DRC and the inspiring journey that has led him to dedicate his career to preventing childhood blindness.
Dr. Yves Kyembwa is an ophthalmology resident based in Goma, North Kivu, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Working at the North Kivu Provincial Hospital, he serves a region deeply affected by years of conflict, displacement, and limited access to healthcare. These challenges have left many families without the resources needed to seek specialized medical care, while preventable blindness and untreated eye diseases continue to affect countless children.
His decision to pursue ophthalmology was driven by a desire to serve vulnerable communities. After graduating as a medical doctor, Dr. Kyembwa spent five years working as a general practitioner, where he witnessed firsthand the enormous burden of untreated eye disease. In a region of nearly ten million people served by only four ophthalmologists, he realized that the need for specialized eye care was urgent and overwhelming. Rather than accept the situation, he chose to specialize in ophthalmology so he could become part of the solution.
Dr. Kyembwa’s passion for children’s health began long before his medical career. As a children’s mentor at his church, he spent years working closely with young people and was deeply moved by the suffering he witnessed. That experience shaped his commitment to caring for vulnerable children and continues to guide his work today. Initially he had considered specializing in pediatric surgery, but it was the growing number of children living with blindness that ultimately inspired him to dedicate his career to ophthalmology.
One of his greatest concerns is retinoblastoma, a rare but aggressive childhood eye cancer that is often diagnosed far too late. Motivated by the lack of awareness surrounding the disease, Dr. Kyembwa recently conducted a research study examining the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare professionals in North Kivu regarding retinoblastoma. While the study is awaiting publication, the preliminary findings revealed what Dr. Kyembwa defines as a “catastrophic” reality: many healthcare providers have little to no knowledge of the disease, highlighting a critical need for education and training throughout the healthcare system.
Beyond limited awareness, Dr. Kyembwa describes a healthcare system facing severe resource constraints. Even when clinicians recognize retinoblastoma, access to diagnostic tools, medications, and treatment options is often insufficient. Many children present with such advanced disease that eye removal is often the only option, and in far too many cases, even that is not enough to stop the disease from spreading. These heartbreaking situations reinforce his belief that earlier detection through community awareness could dramatically improve outcomes for children.
For Dr. Kyembwa, awareness is the foundation of prevention. He believes communities cannot fight a disease they do not know exists, and healthcare professionals cannot effectively diagnose or manage conditions they have never been trained to recognize. His research participants overwhelmingly recommended increased education, healthcare worker training, and community awareness initiatives as the most important next steps. These recommendations closely align with his own vision of strengthening knowledge before children reach advanced stages of disease.
One experience remains especially vivid in his memory. During his ophthalmology training, he cared for a one-year-old child with bilateral retinoblastoma. The disease had progressed so far that the medical team faced an incredibly difficult decision regarding treatment. The emotional weight of delivering that news to the family reinforced his conviction that no child should have to reach such an advanced stage before receiving care. It strengthened his belief that preventive medicine, built on education and early detection, offers the greatest opportunity to save both sight and lives.
Despite the many obstacles he faces, Dr. Kyembwa remains hopeful. Through research, education, and advocacy, he is working to improve understanding of childhood eye diseases among healthcare professionals and communities alike. His commitment extends beyond treating individual patients to building a stronger foundation for pediatric eye health across the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
KnowTheGlow is honored to highlight dedicated physicians like Dr. Yves Kyembwa whose compassion, perseverance, and vision are creating meaningful change for children and families. As preparations continue for KnowTheGlow’s upcoming awareness campaign in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we look forward to working alongside Dr. Kyembwa and other local partners to promote earlier recognition of leukocoria, strengthen education efforts, and help more children receive timely care before more vision and lives are permanently lost.
