Hope amidst horror

WorldShare's partners in DR Congo, HEAL Africa, are making a major contribution in helping those touched by the war, and by its accompanying poverty and disease.

Since 1996, HEAL Africa has been seeking to bring holistic help to the people of Congo. Their high-quality ministry is recognised around the world and they are often featured in TV news reports and major newspapers and magazines.

Recent visitors to their work have included UN Peace Envoys, such as actor George Clooney, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in May 2009, and a delegation from the European Union.

HEAL Africa runs a 200-bed hospital in Goma with a staff of 80, including 16 doctors and surgeons and 28 nurses. It specialises in the treatment of clubfoot, cleft palate, spinabifida, polio, rickets, gynaecology, paediatrics, family medicine, nutrition - and of course, injuries from land mines, gunshots and grenades.

Many services are provided in other clinics in the region and in the community. HEAL Africa has a large number of service areas, such as general medicine, safe motherhood, and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. Each year over 1000 orthopaedic operations are performed.

WorldShare's UK supporters are helping HEAL Africa long-term in the training of orthopaedic officers, medical equipment engineers and nurses, and the improvement of facilities in Goma and at other hospitals across a wide region.

HEAL Africa cannot help being involved in the effects of the fighting. Dr Christopher Kimona of HEAL Africa reports from just three days in October 2008:

"…we received 47 wounded people that had been shot, among them 25 civilians. Five had been shot by MONUC… Furthermore, we received 14 cases of rape, 11 of which were minors.

"Some of them have serious injuries and must remain in hospital, but most were treated with antiretroviral drugs and sent home.... So far there has been no inquiry, neither by the state or local authorities.

"The population is being abandoned. People have lost everything, they are wounded and traumatised and they do not even have any money…

"The international community should care more about the problems of the Congolese people."

One patient writes:

"At about midnight, soldiers came to my house and claimed I was hiding members of the CNDP. Before I could even explain myself, they stormed into my house, where my 12-year-old sister was trying to hide underneath the bed.

"They robbed everything and shot the girl in her thigh. She is now being treated at HEAL Africa. We cannot do anything except give this whole situation into God's hands. Only God can help us."

Maintaining HEAL Africa's services is challenging - especially as they reach out into far-flung communities. Medical teams are often travelling in situations of great danger.