An incredible trek for medical care in one of the poorest areas of the world…
The Daughters of Charity are making a difference in the healthcare of thousands of people...
St Vincent the Servant General Reference Hospital, Lukolela, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
There are 9 Daughters of Charity who serve in Lukolela to staff the hospital, school and social services. Sister Mary Felice, Medical Director, a missionary from the US since 20 yrs, and native Congolese Sisters, Sr Rachel, Administrator, Sr Yvette, Director of the Pharmacy, Sr Christine, Director of Social Services.
The Daughters of Charity first came to Lukolela since 1933, and started a health center, but because of the lack of hospitals in the area it grew to be a General Reference Hospital, with 130 beds. (The photo to the left is from our new Emergency Room built in 2022 with your donations.)
The hospital serves a health district which spans an area of 8700 miles squared, with a population of 204,165, but it is the only hospital for a much larger region. The hospital is located 118 miles from the nearest city, to which one must travel by boat because the roads are in very bad shape or nonexistent.
There are 16 health centers in the health district. If a patient’s case is beyond their capability refer them to our hospital. Many patients travel from far by taxi motorcycle, pirogue (a long, narrow, canoe), or by bicycle.
It is normal in rural African hospitals that patient’s families do the cooking, laundry and help the patients with their hygiene. It is required that a member of the family be present with each patient 24 hours a day.
Our hospital has made much progress with your donations’ and projects with the Italian Bishop’s Conference. We finished the construction of a new isolation building in October of 2025, which was used for a cholera epidemic before it was finished and we are working on submitting a project proposal for a new OB/GYN/Pediatric/Neonatology building.
