2023 Annual Report

Dear Partners,

It is with mixed feelings that we present this note at the end of the year. On the one hand, we are delighted to see 2023 drawing to a close. It’s a grace that the Lord has granted us! On the other hand, we are sad to see the humanitarian, security and socio-economic situation continue to deteriorate in the province of North Kivu, with thousands of people displaced and settled in camps around and in the city of Goma. Our deepest sympathy goes out to all these people!

Throughout 2023, our ability to intervene has been very negatively impacted by the continuing armed conflicts in the eastern part of the DRC. But we are heartened to see that the minimum has been achieved: maintaining HEAL Africa’s capacity to assist vulnerable people, especially survivors of sexual violence, abuse and exploitation both in IDP camps and elsewhere. Despite the difficulties inherent in the war situation, HEAL Africa hospital offered its preventive and curative services for the benefit of the battered population. Displaced people had access to medical care in the medical units supported by HEAL Africa, and complicated cases were referred to and treated at the HEAL Africa hospital. Those living in other provinces have benefited from the specialized services of HEAL Africa’s medical teams, particularly women with fistulas and children with congenital malformations such as cleft lip and cleft palate. It is thanks to your invaluable support, dear partners, that all this has been possible. May God continue to bless you!

Faced with growing challenges in the country, and to be able to pursue its vision and mission, HEAL Africa has been partially corporatized in the Hospital sector. This was not an easy decision for the General Assembly to take. But we believe it was the best decision in view of the socio-politico-economic development of the DRC. With this status, we hope that the hospital will be able to support, to some extent, some of HEAL Africa ASBL community projects. It’s a new exercise that we hope to bring positive results.

Dear partners, with this new configuration of HEAL Africa, we will need your advice and support to move forward.

May the new year 2024 be for all of you the best year imaginable!

Dr Justin PALUKU LUSSY, CEO