Our People

Here is a short introduction to some of the key personnel behind HEAL Africa: those who administer the hospital and organization locally in Goma, those who run the various programs sponsored by HEAL Africa, and the board of directors from the US-based fundraising organization (HEAL Africa USA).

Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo

  • Hon. Dr. Kasereka (“Jo”) Lusi, MD — Founder and Director of HEAL Africa
    Dr. Jo Lusi, LSO Brussels, Orthopedic Surgeon and Director of HEAL Africa, has been an orthopedic surgeon in rural Congo for most of his adult life. He studied medicine at the University (formerly Louvanium) in Kinshasa, Congo, and did his orthopedics specialization in Belgium. After graduating at the top of his class, he returned as an orthopedic surgeon to Nyankunde Mission Hospital, and worked there for the next nineteen years.

    In 1993 he joined MAP International in Nairobi as Regional Director of Health Development. He returned in 1994 to Goma, in Congo, and in 1996 began the work now registered in Congo as DOCS HEAL Africa, and HEAL Africa in the US, training young African doctors to carry on the work of the church in rural medicine.

    Dr. Lusi was a senator in the transitional government of Congo, but his first love is orthopedic outreach surgery for disabled children in remote corners of Congo.

  • Lyn Lusi — Founder of HEAL Africa
    Lyn was born and educated in England, and went to Congo in 1971 as a teacher with the Baptist Missionary Society. She married Dr. Jo Lusi in 1974. After their marriage, she worked in school and hospital administration in northeastern Congo (Nyankunde) for 19 years.

    In 1993, she joined MAP International in Nairobi as Resource Development officer. Part of her work involved developing curricula for HIV/AIDS awareness which is now being used in a number of countries. The war prevented her from joining Jo in Congo in 1996; instead, Lyn set up the Community Based Rehabilitation program for CBM in Rwanda, and worked on her Masters Degree in Human Resource Development and Training. In 1999, she joined DOCS HEAL Africa in Goma as Program Manager and has expanded the Learning Center Hospital’s programs to include Family Planning, Safe Motherhood, Women Against Violence, AIDS Education and Homecare, and Community Rehabilitation. She brings formidable administrative skills, talent for developing people and programs and a strong commitment to Congo.

    HEAL Africa Hospital

  • Christophe Kimona, MD — Hospital Medical Director
    Dr. Kimona is originally from Maniema province, and comes to Goma as a general surgeon. He was recently the Chief Surgeon and Medical Director of the General Hospital in Bukavu. He was previously on staff at several hospitals throughout eastern Congo. He has Diplomas from the University of Kisangani, the University of Burundi and the University of Bordeaux in France. He is a crucial addition to the HEAL Africa medical team in handling the increasing number of general surgeries. Dr. Kimona has also spent a month at the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, increasing his skill at fistula repair.

  • Medard Kabuyaya, MD — Hospital Assistant Medical Director
    Born in south Kivu, Dr. Médard studied at the Faculty of Medicine of the Centre Universitaire Extension de Goma. After his graduation in 2002, he completed 6 months of training at the Musienene hospital. Then he went to initiate the Centre de Référence de Carlos in Butsiri in the Kayna Health Zone. From 2004-2006 Dr. Médard served in Kitatumba General Reference Hospital. He joined the staff of HEAL Africa in 2006.

  • Claude Masumbuko, MD — Hospital Chief of Staff
    Born in Nyankunde, Dr. Masumbuko attended the Graben Catholic University and finished training in medicine, surgery and childbirth in 2000. He practiced as a physician at Matanda Hospital (2001-2005) and also served during 2002-2004, as Faculty Secretary of the Medical School at Graben University. He has been on staff at HEAL Africa since April 2005.

  • Papy Boende, RN — Hospital Director of Nursing
    Nurse Papy directs the nursing staff at the hospital. He had previously worked in hospitals, rural clinics and with non-governmental agencies doing medical relief in Goma after the volcano eruption.

  • Leon Bahindwa — Hospital Personnel Director
    Leon has recently joined the staff at HEAL Africa with a resume of good experience in personnel management.

  • Virginie Mumbere — Hospital Administrative Financial Director
    Virginie has worked with the Lusis since she moved from Kinshasa to Goma. She has been administrator of the hospital, has provided financial oversight to the hospital for many years. Her integrity and compassion are a strength to the core of HEAL Africa.

    HEAL Africa Programs

  • Joseph Ciza Nakamina — Manager, Heal My People Program (Guéris Mon Peuple or GMP), North Kivu
    Joseph is the well-respected manager of the Heal My People program. Prior experience includes: nursing instructor, head nurse at a regional hospital. He began the palliative home care program for HEAL Africa as well as the PMTCT, PEP and training of nurses in rural clinics. He has been tireless in his efforts to reduce violence toward women.

  • Muliri Kabekatyo — Leader, Heal My People Program (GMP), Maniema
    “Mama” Muliri has led this program to address gender-based sexual violence since its beginning in North Kivu in 2003. She provides maturity and wisdom as well as teaching and leadership skills, making this more than a medical program; it’s healing for mind, body and spirit. Training, research, community decisions and action are an integral part of the healing for all in this war-torn province.

  • Fred Kahunde — Field Worker, Heal My People Program (GMP), North Kivu
    Fred’s management skills have been a real asset to HEAL Africa’s programs since the beginning of Heal My People.

  • Maryline Mwenge — Director, Program Finance
    Strong accounting is the key to excellent programs and to credible organizations. Maryline, a graduate of the Free University of the Great Lakes (ULPGL) in Goma, has worked with HEAL Africa for the past three years.

  • Neema Mayala — Leader, Safe Motherhood Program
    Mama Neema spearheads this effort in North Kivu to reduce the mortality rate of mothers and children, and to bring training to nurses in rural clinics and to traditional midwives to get them working together for the health of the community.

  • Jules Bolingo — Director, Spiritual Ministry
    Pastor Bolingo works with two other chaplains as they provide a spiritual framework to people struggling with life and death issues while they receive medical treatment. He also works with the Nehemiah committees as they rebuild communities even as the conflict still rages around eastern Congo.

  • Dr. Eulalie Vyolo Vindu — Manager, Children’s AIDS Program
    Dr. Vindu has always enjoyed caring for others. Family Medicine attracted her because it brings her closer to people and to the community of Goma University, where she graduated in general medicine, surgery and childbirth in December 2002. She joined HEAL Africa in January 2003, to be part of the Medical University of South Africa program through HEAL Africa, specializing in family medicine. She is developing the HIV clinic for children and their families at HEAL Africa, treating and following more than 150 children.

  • Dr. William Bonane — Manager, Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission (of HIV) Program
    Dr. Bonane, with several years of experience in rural hospitals and a keen interest in public health, is the liason between HEAL Africa and rural clinics in teaching ways to prevent transmission of the HIV virus during childbirth, and also providing drugs. His rural counterpart is Ghislain Zirhalo.

  • Charles Bikulo — Manager, Orthopedic Officers’ Training Program
    Charles recently completed Orthopedic Officers’ training in Uganda, and will be teaching the course in Goma which begins in 2008. He has been working with Dr. Lusi as an orthopedic nurse for ten years.

  • Albert Mushiaramina — Coordinator, Program Logistics
    Albert keeps people and programs on track, especially the supplies and teams going to Maniema by air. He is a graduate of the Free University of Great Lakes (ULPGL).

  • Patient Muhozi — Coordinator, Jubilee Training Center
    The Jubilee Training Center is a beehive of activity since its inauguration in April 2007. Medical doctors, nurses, orthopedic officers, staff from other programs, counselors and community activists are being trained regularly in the Center’s space. It houses offices for many of HEAL Africa’s programs and is a favorite venue for both formal and informal meetings . Patient oversees the bookings and smooth running of this central facility for HEAL Africa.

  • Wilfrieda Nsimire and Jules Masudi — Managers, Living Stones (Mawe Hai) Program
    Wilfrieda and Jules both have agricultural degrees and manage the agricultural branch of HEAL Africa. Jules has worked as a teacher at agricultural facilities, and now works mainly with HEAL Africa's Nehemiah committees in rural areas. Wilfrieda manages the Mawe Hai garden site. They both attended a permaculture course in Tanzania in October 2007 to help HEAL Africa seeks better ways of assisting the people in Congo provide for themselves and their families.

  • Ndungo Sakoul — Manager, Choose Life (Choisir la Vie) HIV Program
    Ndungo has developed the Choose Life program over the past seven years to teach medically correct approaches to prevention of HIV infection. She works in close collaboration with all faith communities in Goma, creating an ecumenical network of activists to help those living with the HIV virus. Ndungo’s leadership is respected by all groups as they respond with compassion to the challenges of HIV in communities in Congo.

  • Noella Nsimere Murhula Katembo — Coordinator of Family Support
    Noella was born in Bukavu, in South Kivu. Experienced in literacy, small group solidarity support groups and teaching, she now works with Choisir La Vie, helping women with family members living with HIV increase their ability to provide for their families through solidarity groups, savings and small business skills training with small grants.

  • Prosper Mulengetsi — Manager, Nehemiah Initiative
    Prosper Mulengetsi, an educator from Masisi who has lived in Goma since 1996, has worked since the beginning of the Nehemiah Initiative to help communities become aware of their responsibility and opportunities to rebuild their communities and to protect their vulnerable population.

  • Dada Byamungu Wabilindila and Francine Ndamuso — Trainers, HEALing Arts
    Dada and Francine are seamstresses who work with the women at HEAL Africa, teaching them to sew, knit and crochet while they’re waiting for surgery for fistula repair.

  • Charles Ntampaka Rwalinda — Teacher, Tungane School
    Charles teaches the children with enthusiasm and dedication while they’re living at the hospital. For some of the children it’s their first exposure to a classroom.

United States

  • Judith A. Anderson – Executive Director, HEAL Africa USA
    Judy Ericson Anderson grew up in Congo, and has studied, worked and lived in North America, Europe and Africa over the past 40 years. Her work experience includes small business, international joint governmental and non-governmental programs, and being a wife and mother. For twelve years prior to becoming Executive Director of HEAL Africa US, she worked as a consultant with community transformation programs in Africa, the Caribbean, and Central Asia. “I know that the key to change is the people involved. I have seen HEAL Africa grow and am excited about the impact it is having in North Kivu and Maniema, and about the resource this training center can provide to Congo and Central Africa.”

  • USA Board of Directors
    • Arthur J. Ammann, M.D. — Dr. Ammann is president of Global Strategies for HIV Prevention, a pioneer in the field of HIV prevention and care, and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center.
    • Kasereka M. Lusi, M.D., LMO — Dr. Lusi is the Founder and Director of HEAL Africa in Congo. He has served in a variety of capacities in Africa over 30 years to provide healthcare service and training.
    • Caleb K. King, M.D., Ph.D., FACP — Dr. King is Director of Medicine, Shyira Hospital, Shyira, Rwanda. He has a Ph.D. from MIT, an M.D. from Harvard, and is a specialist in Pediatrics.
    • Theodore Ruel, M.D. — Dr. Ruel is a Fellow, Department of Infectious Diseases, Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco Medical Center. He has been involved with the academic development of the programs at HEAL Africa since 2002.
       
  • Volunteers
    HEAL Africa thanks a host of talented, capable volunteers from Australia and Austria to Congo, Europe, and North America.

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