Dr. Denis Mukwege Mukengere
Biography
Dr. Denis Mukwege Mukengere - Painting by BRUNI
Dr. Mukewge was born on March 1st, 1955 to a family of 9 children. His father was a Pastor at the Pentacostal Church in Bukavu, a city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
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In his youth he accompanied his father in his Pastoral visits to victims, and
while there he made his first contact with patients. His first impression was
that medical help was needed in addition to prayer. After receiving his
baccalaureate he studied medicine in Burundi where after having finished he went
to work in
The Christian Hospital of Lemera, in South-Kivu DR Congo.
Specializing in Podiatry he was shocked by the realization that women were being brought to the hospital from the rural areas on the back of mules, after having hemorrhaged during childbirth at home. Others were quite simply coming to the hospital to die after enduring long and laborious childbirth without success, and the surviving ones would leave with serious genital legions.
At this point Dr. Mukwege changes his direction to gynecology and goes to study at the CHU in Angers, France.
In 1989 Dr. Mukwege settles at the Hospital of Lemera to be close to these women, and there he trains a staff in gynecology and obstetrics. This important service will radiate beyond the borders of the country but, unfortunately, this hospital becomes completely destroyed during the first war of Congo in 1996.
Dr. Mukwege survives Lemera then moves to Bukavu where he witnesses the suffering of the people in the Southern part of Bukavu. There is no medical stucture there either to help women during childbirth. This gives him the inspiration to create a special maternity ward with an operating room at
Panzi Hospital.Immediately it is evident to him, that these women are victims of extreme sexual violence, with the number of victims growing everyday. At this point he creates a specialized service to assume the responsibility of these women. Currently they receive an average of 10 women per day and 30% of these women will undergo major surgery.
As this task becomes increasingly difficult Dr. Mukwege creates a section for the training of nurses, obstetricians and doctors. This is done in collaboration with international experts from the Fistula Hospital of Addis Ababa, who specialize in vaginal rebuilding.
Dr. Denis Mukwege Mukengere
HOSPITAL OF PANZI
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT
Po. Box. : 266 BUKAVU
SOUTH KIVU PROVINCE
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO8th COMMUNITY OF PENTECOSTAL CHURCHES IN CENTRAL AFRIC
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BRUNI Gallery
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Campbell, CA 95008
(408) 370-4700
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