The Nyamibungu Referral Hospital is a 100 beds rural missionary hospital caring for the 243000 inhabitants of the Kitutu Health Zone. It runs a full complementary health care package including outpatient, inpatients (gynecology, surgery, internal medicines and pediatrics), laboratory, radiology, administration and engineering services. The first semester of 2026 was marked by the increased frequency of trauma patient in the conflicting environment. The DRC vs M23/Rwanda had split the South Kivu Province into 2 with 90% under Government and 10% under rebellion as seen in the map below. This increased from the ready existing muddy road related road enclosure to the worse security related and ransoming one. Nevertheless, the hospital functioned permanently, staffs were regular and none of them were victim of bullet except cases of extortions outside the hospital compound. There was intense internal population movement from insecure conflicting zones to the safer areas like Kitutu hence the high trend of hospital accessibility. We provided care to 1737 patients among them 631(36%) were admitted for inpatient care. Most medical indicators were in growth the bed occupancy rate of 77%, the cure rate of 86%, the total income at 117% as well as the average cost of patient care episode to 60 USD. Unfortunately, social indicators were worse increased cases of adolescent sexual abuses, bullets victims, partial loss of airdrome control as well as not solved poverty related disabilities (cataract blindness, flat/clubbed feet children, malnourished…) with no access to any humanitarian (NGO or Church assistance). We attempted to relieve the staff social burden through a microfinance initiative while we further call for more emergency relieve funds to keep this medical team in rural before they seek exile in town.

The Nyamibungu Referral Hospital is a 100 beds rural missionary hospital caring for the 230000 inhabitants of the Kitutu Health Zone.

It runs a full complementary health care package including outpatient, inpatients (gynecology, surgery, internal medicines and pediatrics), laboratory, radiology, administration and engineering services.

The year 2025 was marked by the conflict between the DR Congo army and the Rwanda backed M23 rebellion hence the area was overwhelmed with military presence.

Stories of looting,road blockage between Bukavu and Kitutu worsened the ready challenging supply access due to holed muddy road.

Nevertheless, the hospital functioned permanently, staffs were regular and none of them were shoot except cases of extortions outside the hospital compound. There was intense internal population movement from insecure conflicting zones to the safer areas like Kitutu hence the high trend of hospital accessibility.

We provided care to 3142 patients among them 1317(42%) were admitted for inpatient care.

The bed occupancy rate was 79%, the cure rate of 90,4% with 106% increasement of total income as well as the average cost of patient care to 51,5 USD.

There was worsened adolescent sexual abuse and exploitation, regular military care, partial loss of airdrome control as well as not solved poverty related disabilities (cataract blindness, flat/clubbed feet children, malnourished…).

We call for more emergency relieve funds and career development strategy to keep this medical team around and thank you for those who honored their commitment to support rural community care.