CONGO PROJECT
Mission Statement
The AusHEAL Congo Project inspires hope in Eastern Congo by empowering HEAL Africa to provide the best possible holistic healthcare.
Initiatives.
The AusHEAL Congo Project has 5 key initiatives:
Training Programs - both short courses & longer tertiary training
Multi-Disciplinary Teams - who participate in teaching, training and support the various logistical improvements
Scholarships - for indigenous clinical staff to complete specialty training
Short-Term Development Grants - for clinical staff to upskill in neighbouring countries for a 1-month period
Logistical support - with emphasis on IT, equipment, resourcing, and infrastructure improvements
The outcome of these 5 key initiatives has strengthened the health system in North Kivu Province and beyond, and has laid the foundation for improved, sustainable healthcare.
Training Centre
In 2019, AusHEAL funded and facilitated the construction and fit-out of a Training Centre at HEAL Africa Hospital (an additional floor on an existing building), with financial assistance through a Direct Aid Program Grant from the Australian Government.
The Training Centre is now well-used, hosting surgical training with a skills lab, family medicine training, anaesthesia & resuscitation training, a medical library and other training initiatives.
AusHEAL Congo Project Steering Committee
Dr Neil Wetzig (AusHEAL Congo Project Director)
Mrs Gwen Wetzig (Administrator)
Mr Paul Bakes (IT Consultant)
Dr Darryl Burstow (Cardiologist)
Dr Graham Zerk (Emergency Physician)
Mrs Cheryl Brooks (Registered Nurse)
Dr Luke Heywood (Anaesthetist)
Partnership with GDG for AusHEAL Congo Project J730N
AusHEAL is a partner for Project J730N with Global Development Group (ABN 57 102 400 993), an Australian NGO approved by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Tax deductible receipts for gifts over $2 will be issued by Global Development Group. Excess funds may be directed to another approved activity. Please note, no non-development (evangelistic, political or welfare) activities are a part of, or funded by, GDG projects. For more information please visit www.gdg.org.au
About Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has an ever-increasing population of over 92 million people. Its development has been hampered by over 40 years of civil war and insecurity with rebel attacks often destabilising the population. After the 1994 Rwandan genocide occurred, many perpetrators fled across the border into DRC and the after-affects continue to destabilise security.
Goma, where HEAL Africa Hospital is located, is the provincial capital of North Kivu Province and is located on the border of Rwanda.
Although DRC is wealthy in natural resources, these have often been plundered by foreign entities, and the country has suffered from a lack of leadership to improve the lot of its people. This is no more evident than in healthcare. Although government hospitals exist, staff are often poorly trained and have few resources. There is no government funded health insurance and with approximately 52% of the population living in extreme poverty (less than $1.25 USD per day) few can afford even the basic health needs.
About HEAL Africa
HEAL Africa Hospital (HAH) is a 300+ bed private hospital run by a registered Congolese not-for-profit organisation - HEAL Africa, founded by Dr Jo Lusi and his late British wife Lyn in 2000.
Dr Jo is a Congolese orthopaedic surgeon, who trained in Europe. He was also a Congolese senator in the interim government (2000-2006) and is responsible for having the rights of women and children enshrined in the Congolese constitution, and rape of women outlawed.
HAH is one of only 3 hospitals in DRC recognised as a Tertiary Referral Hospital.
Dr Jo has long had a desire to train Congolese doctors to improve healthcare in his country. He recognised that if he sent clinical staff out of Africa to train for long periods, they often did not return. He has therefore encouraged staff from developed countries to train Congolese staff in DRC.
HEAL Africa Hospital not only supplies medical care in Goma, but through its outreach programs serves the DRC population in many of the 26 provinces, with a particular focus on the areas of VV Fistula Repair, Cleft Lip and Palate Repair and Club Foot Management.
