Bunia, 20 August 2013 – After refurbishing and equipping the hospital ward for women affected by fistula in Bunia, the district of Ituri in the Eastern Province, the United Nations Stabilization Mission in DR Congo (MONUSCO) inaugurated and turned over the rehabilitated wards to the local authorities on 19 August 2013. The inauguration ceremony of Rwankole hospital ward coincided with the commemoration of the World Humanitarian Day.

The ward was rehabilitated and equipped with 60 beds, 60 mattresses, 60 bed linens and 60 blankets worth $ 13,372 funded by MONUSCO as part of its quick impact projects.

Before turning over the keys of the hospital ward, the chief of MONUSCO office, accompanied by the Ituri Brigade commander, thanked the humanitarian stakeholders in Ituri who work tirelessly to alleviate people's suffering. He reiterated MONUSCO's readiness to ever bring its technical and logistic contribution to facilitate their work in favor of the civilian populations who desperately need assistance.

The Ituri Brigade Commander, for his part, recalled that peacekeepers' work also has a humanitarian nature, though their mandate is basically focused on civilian's protection. He raised the countless medical campaigns conducted by peacekeepers in various areas in the district to alleviate people suffering from various pathologies. He finally requested the hospital staff to take good care of this property and the equipment provided.

The rehabilitated and equipped ward will not only increase the hospital intake capacity but also the quality of the health care given by the hospital to the patients from the four corners of the district.

Amadou Maïga/ MONUSCO