Modernization of the MHCD Luvungi Hospital by building walkways to protect patients from the rain and sun

We managed to modernize the MHCD Luvungi Hospital by building walkways to
protect patients from the rain and sun, building a new reception area and putting
chairs from Australia, building ophthalmology and dentistry clinics and a modern
operating theatre, and opening a medical imaging department, laboratory, and
consultation rooms.

This has helped us to receive many patients, even from other provinces and
territories, and has facilitated the work of our doctors, nurses, and midwives.
Due to this improvement at the MHCD Luvungi Hospital, we have managed to avoid
transferring many patients to hospitals in the bigger cities, only due to lack of medical
materials and equipment.
We would also like to inform you that in 2024, we plan to build a clinic with private
rooms, a physiotherapy department, and additional walkways.

Ophthalmology Equipments for MHCD Eye Cliniq

I would like to inform you that we have opened an ophthalmology clinic at our
hospital in Luvungi DRC after realising that many people die every day in DRC from
eye complications and diseases. Last month, there was a mother who was suffering
from an eye disease, and when her eyes became very sore, she went to see a
neighbour to ask for advice and the neighbour told her to put petrol in her eyes as
medicine. She went to the petrol station, bought the petrol and put it in her eyes.

immediately she became blind. When she went to hospital after several months, she
died after a surgical operation.
This bad news prompted the MHCD mission especially to conduct investigations in
Uvira Territory particularly in the villages and rural areas about eye problems. After
two months, we realized that there are many people suffering from eye problems
(diseases) but they stay at home because they don't have money to go to the eye
clinics for treatment.

In all Uvira Territory we don't have an Eye surgeon, most of the patients go to
Bujumbura Burundi or Bukavu for eye treatment which costs them so much because
they spent a lot of money for transport, accommodation, and food and for those who
are going to Burundi they need to pay for a special travel document.
In DRC many people live under USD 1 a day, so they cannot afford the money to pay
for eye treatment in a foreign country or city like Bukavu.

This is why after having been diagnosed, most of them stay at home and wait for
their last day. others use traditional medicines to treat themselves but the results we
have is that those traditional medicines destroy their eyes much more.
To solve this problem and bring a permanent solution to those suffering from eye
diseases in the region, we opened an ophthalmology (Eye) clinic in Luvungi MHCD
hospital in DRC to help the vulnerable people suffering from eye diseases and
complications.

Our ophthalmologists work every day from Monday to Saturday from 8:00 am to
5:00pm. They do consultations and treat patients with eye problems especially those
who need glasses and medications.
Since we opened the eye clinic, we have managed to treat hundreds of patients and
saved lives of many people. In consulting patients, we discovered that about 70% of
them suffer from cataract and other eye diseases that need operation, but we don't
have equipment to conduct operations, so all those with complicated problems we
transfer them to Bujumbura Burundi but most of them don’t go there because they
don’t have money. They go back at home and continue to suffer, by bad luck some of
them have lost their lives after suffering for so long especially those who with eye
diseases associated with diabetes and other chronic diseases.

At our hospital we have an eye doctor surgeon who is doing operations but because
we don't have the necessary equipment’s that can help him to do operations, we are
transferring patients to Bujumbura Burundi.
We are looking for well-wishers who will support us with second hand or help us to
purchase new equipment’s.
We are in dire need of the following equipment’s and materials:
1. Ophthalmology microscope for surgery
2. Auto-Refractometer
3. Lensmeter
4. Tonometer
5. Electric scalpel.
6. Ophthalmoscope
7. Optical Ophthalmological biometer
8. The Trial Lens Set

As we had said earlier on, we have two Ophthalmologists (one is a surgeon, and
another is doing general eye consultation and treatment) but because of lack of
those equipment’s we transfer all patients who need to be operated and that is not
good. Most of them when we transfer them, they go back to their homes and wait for
their last days because they can't afford money to go to Bujumbura Burundi or
Bukavu for eye treatment and we feel very bad in our hearts to see that they
continue suffering because we don't have those equipment’s.
I kindly please request you to help us with those equipment’s (new or second hand)
as we need them so much at the MHCD hospital (Eye Clinic) in DRC.
Lastly, I would like to inform you that we are in contact with a company in China who
are able to provide for us all those new equipment at USD 13,000 about AUD
19,930.
If we can get the funds, we can purchase new equipment in China at reasonable
prices and send them directly to DRC.
Please feel free to ask me any questions about the eye treatment program.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Once again thank you very much.