When the first thoughts of the Central Hospital of Rusaya were birthed, the idea was just to attach a small birthing room to a health clinic in Goma. Comfort Congo, and, in particular, Dieudonné the director, made the case for the health needs of the displaced people in the desperately poor Rusayu area and the decision was made to build a small hospital with a ward each for men, women and children, a birthing room, post-partum room and a ward for newborns.Â
Within six months the neo-natal mortality rate of the area had halved from a scarcely believable 18-25% down to 9-13% with those born at the hospital itself all surviving. It was an indication of the crucial life-saving value of the maternity support.Â
Over the years since opening in 2015 the hospital has been through major challenges brought about by war, displacement, poverty, looting and the horrific toll of rape on women in the region. It has become a beacon of hope in the darkness and through the staff, the Comfort Congo team, and the hospital chaplaincy, it has brought healing to heart and body to this distressingly traumatised community.Â
However, one challenge stood above others. The Maternity and General wards were housed in the one building, meaning that the mothers in labour, giving birth and nursing their babies, were right next to the disease-treating and often very busy General wards. A separate maternity and gynaecological building was needed. However, with the hospital being almost entirely funded by ongoing Comfort International support, as no government funds were forthcoming, the challenge of paying salaries, and ambulance and medication costs suppressed the possibility of raising funds for a new maternity building.
Last year, the Congolese government agreed to joint fund a new maternity building with Comfort International and construction began in the summer of 2024. The new building would house all the maternity services including delivery, breastfeeding & post-natal health, post-partum immediate care, wound dressing (especially for C-sections), laboratory, midwives overnight and labour rooms.Â
Tragedy struck the hospital in January this year when the war engulfed the area and the main hospital was looted and supplies for the new maternity unit were also taken, but within 2-3 weeks the Comfort Congo team were back on site and building recommenced. We were delighted to officially open the new hospital unit in July with great sounds of praise to God for His goodness.Â
The maternity ward has ten beds. The operating theatre has two good quality beds. The rooms are beautifully built and we are absolutely overjoyed to see this project come to fruition. We look forward to many happy births.
Staffing will of course be a challenge as the staff roll increases. We have been blessed with the sponsorship of a qualified midwife being completely covered by the Oasis church in West Yorkshire and sponsorship of the new doctor has received its first monthly support. God has enabled so many barriers to be overcome and we trust that He will make a way for all that is needed for this wonderful new provision.Â
