To get a better understanding of the SGBV programs in DRC the Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs, Maria Otero, visited Panzi Hospital in October. At Panzi she met with USAID and State Department implementing partners who together provide an integrated response to the problem of SGBV.

More than thirty people have now been trained in Panzi Hospital in the management of information on gender based violence.
Among them are doctors, nurses and psychosocial assistants.
According to project coordinator for SSV project at Panzi Hospital, Johanna Pearson:
- What is lacking in the South Kivu province, is a standardized system for collecting, analysis and dissemination of data concerning survivors of sexual violence, among the various intervening organizations.
- This training will improve information management within Panzi Hospital.
It will also help to ensure proper care of patients and improve the general analysis of gender based violence.

This new system of management of information on gender based violence is secure and the patients can be sure of confidentiality. The training highlights the importance of patient consent in the sharing and processing of any individual information.
The system is being tested for a period of one month, after which an evaluation will identify the strengths and weaknesses in the particular situation of the SSV project.

In the beginning of September a sensitization outreach campaign was launched in the province of Kasai Oriental (west of South Kivu) to sensitize the population, local authorities, and local health centers in the fight against obstetric fistula. The sensitization campaign will in October be followed by reparations in five locations in the province, to be covered mainly by funding from EngenderHealth. Severe cases of obstetric fistula will be referred to Panzi Hospital in Bukavu. The sensitization campaign is financed through donations from Tigo and the people of South Korea.

Dr Denis Mukwege, Medical Director of Panzi Hospital, is one of the recipients of the fifth annual Clinton Global Citizen Awards, which honors individuals who have made an outstanding impact in philantrophy, government, civil society and the corporate sector.

- My team and I gotten a lot of international attention for the work we do at Panzi Hospital. Now  I don’t think there is anyone who can say they don’t know about the situation in DR Congo, says Dr Denis Mukwege.
- So I hope this will lead to some action that can make a  change for the women in Congo.

Dr Mukwege received the award on a ceremony in New York, where he gave the speech for the former President of the US, Bill Clinton, among others.

Read dr Denis Mukwege’s speech

The new building for the medical faculty at l’Université Evangélique en Afrique (UEA) is now inaugurated. It is situated just next to Panzi Hospital and has a capacity of over 300 students.
The Minister of Higher Education in DRC, Mashako Mamba, said this is the second medical university of this standard in the country, and that it shows the significance of Cepac’s (Communauté des Eglises de Petnecôte en Afrique Centrale) role as an actor in the society. He also highlighted that it is time for Panzi Hospital to become a university hospital.
- When a country has a lot of darkness it is important to think about the future of our youth, this is a good thing and an investment for the young people in Congo, says Dr Denis Mukwege.
- This fall we will start a research program at the medical faculty together with sister universities such as Sahlgrenska (Sweden), Michigan, Toulouse and Milan. With immediate access to the hospital I think our both institutions will gain from this close collaboration, says Gustave Mushagalusa Nachibera, principal of UEA.

Representatives from Germany, who funded the building through EED, South Korea, USA and Sweden participated in the ceremony.

Based on witnesses from 61 survivors of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo the report of the Panel on Remedies and Reparations is now released.
The panel was composed of Kyung-wha Kang, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Elisabeth Rehn, former Minister of Defense of Finland, and Dr. Denis Mukwege, Medical Director of Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, South Kivu.

During 17 days in October 2010 the panel and its team visited 7 different places in three provinces, in DRC to listen to 61 survivors and ask them about their needs and thoughts about remedies and reparations. The panel held talks with provincial and local government officials, and held roundtables with officials in the justice sector, members of civil society and UN representatives.

Read the full report here: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/ZR/DRC_Reparations_Report_en.pdf

The situation for hiv-positive people in South Kivu has worsened. There are few actors in South Kivu responding to the actual need of treatment for people living with hiv/aids which leads to a large number seeking help at Panzi Hospital.The current situation has occured since several centres that used to treat hiv-patients have closed, and there is not enough ARV-therapy (Anti Retro Viral ) in South Kivu.
Recently Stephen Lewis, the founder of Stephen Lewis Foundation, visited Panzi Hospital and met with hundreds of people living with hiv.

Since 2007 Stephen Lewis Foundation has funded a hiv/aids-project at Panzi Hospital. Today the project is treating more than 1000 adults and children. The patients come from Survivors of sexual violence’s project, Panzi Hospital’s primary care, outreach activities in churches and schools, and other hospitals and NGOs. The project offers the following services; Pediatrics, Maternity service, Nutrition of inpatients, Anti-retroviral treatment center, Volunteer test center (VCT), Laboratory, Security blood transfusion center. The project also includes social activities such as micro-credits and school equipment and fees for students.With the mobile visiting program Panzi’s staff is able to perform counseling and hiv-tests in villages outside Bukavu.