The Panzi Hospital in Bukavu has just received a long-expected delivery of copper cables for the eventual installation over the coming weeks of a medical oxygen production unit, which was delivered earlier.
This equipment is a gift of Belgium and meets a need identified by Doctor Denis Mukwege whose hospital did until now only have low-flow oxygen concentrators. Because of the value of the delivery, the shipment was carefully planned. The packages were sent via Kigali airport and transported through Rwanda before crossing the border into Bukavu. It was actually impossible to find an insurance company that was willing to cover transportation through Congo.
The oxygen production unit will be installed by a team of experts from the South African supplier Intaka. The installation of the network is entrusted to the hospital's team.
This investment is of the utmost importance for the hospital which is renowned for its treatment of victims of sexual violence. Since the end of 2012 it has received an average three hundred women every month. It is estimated that maintenance and the investment will be covered by providing surplus oxygen to other medical instances in the region.
Interview with doctor Mukwege (source: UN Human Rights)