Fistula Ward at Panzi Hospital (External View)

Panzi Hospital History

The Panzi Hospital was established in 1999 to confront the injuries suffered by the population of Bukavo in the Democratic Republic of Congo during the "war of liberation" that began in 1996. The impact on the health of the residents of this area was dramatic, particularly for women. The maternal death rate increased dramatically. In 1998, several large donors, including UNICEF, the AUSTRIA organization and PMU Interlife of Sweden, were important contributors to the building of a maternity center. Subsequently, a lot of land was contributed which contained two old buildings. These buildings were remodeled to start the center and additional buildings were built. The founder of the Hospital is Doctor Denis Mukwege, a Congolese Gynecologist.

The current hospital contains 334 patient beds and provides a range of obstetric, gynecological, pediatric and internal medical services treating patients for free. In addition it provides specialized surgery for women who are victims of sexual violence. It also contains a pharmacy, a laboratory, a radiology unit, ultrasound and endoscopy. The Hospital is becoming the primary referral center of South Kivu and North Kalemie, and receives patients from other parts of the Congo as well.

Fistula Ward at the Panzi Hospital (Internal View)