The General Referral Panzi Hospital is a provincial hospital located in Bukavu, DR Congo, managed by CEPAC, a protestant church organization. It was built in 1999 under the supervision of Dr. Denis Mukwege, its founder and current medical director. Swedish and British development funds, PMU and Läkarmissionen supported the infrastructure.
The hospital is specialized in treating gynecological disorders, specifically those due to reproductive trauma and trauma from sexual violence, as well as the holistic clinical treatment for survivors. Dr. Mukwege and his gynecological surgical team are internationally recognized experts in fistula and incontinence repair and the long time healing and community reintegration associated with fistula care.
Departments
The hospital provides specialized care in obstetrics, pediatrics, internal medicine, general and specialized surgery.
Panzi Hospital has its own laboratory, radiology department, ultrasound and endoscopy units and offers additional services in ophthalmology and dentistry.
The hospital houses several projects supporting specific needs in South Kivu, the four biggest focusing on fistula, nutrition, hiv/aids and survivors of sexual violence. The fistula project builds capacity of medical staff to prevent and repair fistulas whereas the hiv-aids and survivors of sexual violence projects serve hundreds of beneficiaries in South Kivu with holistic care. Patients come from the Panzi Hospital’s outreach activities in churches and schools, and other hospitals and NGOs. The Nutrition Center treats patients in the hospital but also reaches the surrounding areas. Around 250 people get food once a week combined with advice about nutrition and maternal health care. Patients come from outreach activities, other hospitals and NGOs.
Panzi Hospital collaborates in trainings with the University of Umeå, Gothenburg, Toulouse, HHI (Harvard Humanitarian Initiative) and Mayo Clinic.


