Democratic Republic of Congo

Bolenge Hospital located in the city of Bolenge in the Equatorial Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was built in 1928 by the Community of Disciples of Christ in the Congo (CDCC), a partner church with Global Ministries for over 100 years.  In one year Bolenge Hospital treated over 16,000 patients; over 50 percent were treated for HIV/AIDS- related illnesses.  Much work is also done at Bolenge Hospital to provide early childhood vaccinations, prenatal visits, and obstetrical care as well as treatment of chronic and punctual illness and disease.

For many years during the height of the violent war in the DRC, the entire area is of one of conflict.  Even though hostilities have lessened, the area continues to be unstable, subject to interference from delinquent or political armed groups, and may in the future be the site of more severe conflict.  This has obliged the Bolenge Hospital to prepare itself for operations in the middle of instability if the need arises.  It is one among very few, if not the only, medical facility providing care in this area of Congo.

On June 13, 2006, the Bolenge Hospital experienced an electrical fire, which completely destroyed the hospital's newer main building and equipment.  Community members worked hard to save the people inside the building before it was completely engulfed by flames and no human lives were lost.  The patients were brought to the homes of doctors, pastors, and others in the community, and some were relocated to nearby Mbandaka.  Currently the hospital is operating out of an old building, with 18 doctors and nurses having returned to work.  This older building is not equipped to handle Bolenge's wide range of health issues and needs and a proposal to reconstruct the burned hospital building and modernize the other buildings has been presented and is being implemented as resources become available.

The proposal calls for a modernized building containing 150 beds, equipped to cover the health needs of the population and attention against endemic diseases. The reconstruction is projected to take roughly three years to complete with financial aid coming from several different partners, both local and abroad, and regular construction evaluations made two or three times each year.

The new, modernized hospital is expected to positively reinforce the presence and image of the church in the Bolenge area, as well as essentially benefit the health of those in need. Global Ministries' hope is that Disciples and UCC members in the United States and Canada will not see the fire at Bolenge Hospital only as a setback, but also as an opportunity to be a Critical Presence in a country that continues to witness to God's mission through their resilience and faithfulness.

See plans for the new Pediatric wing at:  Bolenge Hospital Pediatric Wing