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HEAL Africa

HEAL Africa is a Christian medical ministry in eastern D.R. Congo, at the heart of a region where 5 million people have died since 1996 in what has been termed ‘Africa’s World War’.

While the civil war officially ended in late 2002, violence has continued in subsequent years, notably in the north-east.

Many people wounded in the fighting are healed at the HEAL Africa hospital in Goma.

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DR Congo - HEAL Africa1
HEAL Africa surgeon Dr. Jo Lusi with young patient

The hospital is a major training hospital for Congolese doctors and nurses. Its training programmes, linked to universities in South Africa and elsewhere, bring the skills of medical personnel to standards leading-edge for Africa.

HEAL Africa engages in Health, Education, Advocacy and Leadership, working with churches, local and international authorities to bring about practical and spriritual healing.

HEAL Africa is internationally recognised as leading the care of women and girls who have been physically and sexually abused in the war. Through HEAL Africa, victims receive physical and emotional healing, and help to be accepted back into their families and communities. 

HEAL Africa has led the fight to have the use of sexual violence recognised as a crime, and offenders brought to justice. In 2009, WorldShare’s petition to bring about and end to the war and to the use of sexual violence as a weapon attracted thousands of signatures.

In 2008, WorldShare toured the ‘Lumo’ film in the UK. This award-winning feature follows one young rape victim’s story through surgery and recovery at the HEAL Africa hospital.

Key HEAL Africa projects

In-patient care for women
In-patient care for women

  • A wide range of healthcare provision with a strong orthopaedic specialilty, including recognised speciality treatment for club foot, a widespread condition in the region. 

  • In 2005, HEAL Africa performed the first total hip replacement surgery in D.R. Congo.

  • HEAL Africa's many outreach teams extend care to dozens of small hospitals and clinics, and to remote communities over a vast area. 

  • The 'Victims of Violence' programme assists people suffering the horrific consequences of attacks against the person - including sexual - that are common in conflict zones. 

  • Nehemiah Committees bring together community leaders - Christian, Muslim, animist and other - to help communities take positive steps on their own to improve life.

  • An AIDS awareness programme, initially funded by a grant from the World Bank, has made a significant impact. A HEAL Africa centre cares for widows and children who have lost husbands and fathers from AIDS or in the war.

  • A literacy programme is bringing Bibles - at a cost of £3 - and basic correspondence courses to hospital patients in their own languages. Through this and other work, patients in HEAL Africa's hospital have opportunity to learn of God's love for them.   

  • HEAL Africa works for the resettlement of war orphans.

Hillary Clinton visits HEAL Africa

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DR Congo - HEAL Africa 2
Secretary Clinton at HEAL Africa

In August 2009, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited the HEAL Africa hospital.

“In Goma, I met doctors and advocates who work every day to repair broken bodies and spirits,” said Mrs Clinton.

“Caregivers like Lyn Lusi, who founded HEAL Africa in Goma, represent humanity at its best.”

“Choisir La Vie”                                                                                                  

Families living under the shadow of HIV/AIDS are often so poor that they can only afford one meal per day, let alone an education for their children.

Choisir La Vie (CLV), meaning “Choose Life”, is a support programme under the umbrella of HEAL Africa, caring specifically for families affected by HIV/AIDS. CLV focuses on:-

  • medical support

  • nutritional education

  • trauma counselling

  • income generation

  • schooling.

The medical support work of CLV includes the provision of anti-retroviral drugs (ARV’s). CLV’s schooling programme for children affected by HIV/AIDS is mostly supported by child sponsorship. Sponsorship support may help children living with a parent who is suffering from the disease, or orphaned and living with extended family. Some children are themselves HIV+. 

While some of the children live in the town of Goma (the principal town in this region of eastern Congo), many are located in remote areas, often under the control of rebel forces.

CLV places great emphasis on micro-loans and savings mobilization as effective means of motivating these broken and burdened families to create savings groups to improve financial security. 

NEW For the first time, we are able to offer child sponsorship in D.R. Congo, with a scheme run for HEAL Africa by CLV. To download an information leaflet (PDF) about this scheme, click here. To find out how to start sponsoring, see our ChildAid site.

PROJECTS

(Click on the links to see details of the projects of this ministry partner)

145031 Mercy Fund

145101 Quality of Care

145102 Palliative Care

PRAYER LETTERS

(Click on the link to read a recent prayer letter from this ministry partner)

D.R. Congo - HEAL Africa - April 2011 (PDF)