Why Otema matters
Sankuru is a province in the centre of the DRC, straddling the equatorial forest. Its capital, Lodja, has around 300,000 inhabitants and serves a catchment population of about 1,500,000, in a city that is developing very quickly without the infrastructure being able to keep up.
Care that is unique in the region
Otema Hospital has an inpatient service, an operating theatre, an emergency service, a consultation service with imaging (ultrasound and endoscope), a laboratory and a pharmacy. It offers care that is rarely found elsewhere in the region, and the reputation of its teams leads some patients to travel more than 400 km to be treated.
Comprehensive support for victims
Thanks to its legal clinic, the hospital offers support that is unique in Sankuru, based on four pillars: physical care, psychological support, legal defence and professional reintegration. Since its creation, the number of victims who dare to report violence has increased, a sign that trust is being built.
A Congolese project with international support
Otema is a Congolese institution, initiated by Congolese people for Congolese people. International NGOs and health professionals, including MEDAF in Switzerland and La Gerbe in France, strengthen its equipment and development, notably through shipments of equipment in 2014 and 2018.
Training the next generation
The Sankuru Higher Technical Institute (IstSAN), less than a kilometre from the hospital, offers training in nursing, computing, development and dressmaking, with capacity for 150 students.