In line with HEAL Africa’s vision to provide specialized care delivered by local experts in DRC, HEAL started a strong orthopedics and traumatology training program for Congolese nurses in 2007. Since then, 112 finalists have completed the program. They return to their health structures of origin after their training to serve their communities to the best of their ability. During morning devotions on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, a new group of 38 laureates graduated, constituting the thirteenth group to complete the training program. Of these, 25 are alumni who joined a specialized bachelor’s degree program to adhere to LMD system’s requirements (Bachelor – Masters – Doctorate); the remaining 13 followed a normal curriculum of the program’s newly-adopted training system. These students have become the very first wave of candidates from the HEAL Africa Orthopaedic Officers School to complete their training program under the newly integrated LMD system!

The courses take place at ISTM Goma (Institut Supérieur des Techniques Médicales de GomaMedical techniques Institute of Goma); with its tertiary-level technical platform, HEAL Africa Hospital offers a fertile ground for practical training to the students of the program.

“Being a surgeon, I can testify that having well-trained orthopaedic officers makes our job easier. They are useful to us here in Goma as well as in the hinterland of DRC where we regularly intervene during medical campaigns missions carried out by medical teams from HEAL Africa Hospital.”

– Dr. Simplice VUHAKA, Orthopedic Surgeon at HEAL Africa Hospital